Kweku Sumbry

“Wherever Sumbry plays, he brings to the kit an astonishing and virtuosic array of polyrhythms (i.e., contrasting rhythms played simultaneously) that are directly connected to West Africa.” - Mike West, Washington City Paper

Kweku Sumbry is a drummer, percussionist, and composer from Washington, D.C. with deep roots in the world of West African drumming. Sumbry comes from a family of musicians and knows his craft from the ground up. He literally built his own djembe drums. That solid foundation, combined with practice and commitment, have made Sumbry an in-demand drummer in New York and DC.

Kweku graduated from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in DC and went on to the School of Jazz at The New School in New York. While in college, he met saxophonist and now Blue Note recording artist Immanuel Wilkins and has played in Immanuel’s ensembles ever since. Kweku describes his own playing as “Think Fela Kuti meets Steve Coleman meets Mamady Keita meets Mahiri Fadjimba Keita meets John Coltrane meets James Brown.”

• Doors open: 6:30 pm
• Show 7 pm
• All tickets: $20
• Parties of 4 or more can reserve a table for an additional $25. Send a request to [email protected]
• Minors are welcome but must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
• Free street parking, no food or drink minimum, no charge to stay for second set.

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Host or Publisher Jazz Kitchen Productions