A new all-star musical project featuring two-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist Lekan Babalola and acclaimed British clarinettist Kate Luxmoore. A key strand of work by the Yorùbá Contemporary Arts Trust led by Lekan Babalola, the Sacred Funk Quartet evolved following a commission by the University of Birmingham in 2021.
Underpinning a commitment to exploring and celebrating the diverse musical traditions of the African diaspora, YCAT was founded in 1995 as a charitable organization sharing and maintaining the integrity and relevance of Yorùbá arts and culture in wider society – within local communities, both in the UK and overseas.
Kate Luxmoore, a clarinettist and composer/arranger whose musical journey has spanned different genres and styles of playing from classical to folk, afrobeat and jazz, has performed and toured across the UK, Europe and Africa and recorded in America and Cuba and has had the privilege of working with artists such as Tony Allen, Lucky Ranku, Herlin Riley and folk artists such as Fairport Convention, Jackie MckShee and Anna Ryder.
Lekan Babalola is a two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, film director and conceptual artist with over 40 years in the arts. He has worked with many prestigious names in the music industry. Awarded his first Grammy in 2006 for performances on the late Ali Farka Toure’s album ‘In the Heart of the Moon’, he was awarded a second at the 49th Grammy Awards in 2008 for his work on the American jazz artist Cassandra Wilson’s album Loverly.
In 1980 he came to Britain and as his skills as a master percussionist grew was invited to join Gasper Lawal in 1982. He continued his career where he performed with the likes of Ernest Ranglin, Branford Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, African Jazz All Stars, Roy Ayers, Kate Luxmoore Group, Tony Allen, KLLB Band, Axelle Red, Pinse Saul, Queen Salawa Abeni, Jean Toussaint.