Workhorse blues

Kokomo’s Santiago Rebagliati, Nigel Masters, Ian ‘Beano’ Gilpin, Derek Jacombs and Grant Bullot bringing the blues on stage. Photo: supplied

Kokomo's new album ‘Workhorse' has been rearing to get on radio waves for two years and is now finally unleashed.

Bay of Plenty band, Kokomo, create a distinctive sound with their New Zealand blues and roots music. Forming in the 1990s, Kokomo has played at major rock, blues, jazz and folk festivals, having toured extensively throughout New Zealand. Adding to their impressive discography, Kokomo released ‘Workhorse' earlier in July.

'It's an album about New Zealand really,” says Kokomo's vocalist and acoustic guitarist Derek Jacombs.

'There are songs about places in NZ and the sort of things people do, but all approached with hopefully a lightness of touch and humour.”

'We've had a very positive reaction; I think it's sort of the best reaction we've had so far.”

Derek says he can't choose a favourite track on the album and that there is a mix of moods that ‘Workhorse' gives.

'So there's Highway 29 blues, which is a very slow mournful song.

'Then there's a big, what I call a four beer boogie, ‘Bars gonna close' which is just a chance for everyone to blow off some steam and have a good dance. We often finish our gigs with that one.”

With the stops and starts of Covid-19, the album has been in the works since 2020, says Derek.

'The original idea was to release it last year but after cancelling tours during the year we realised we wouldn't be able to get out and play the songs live so we ended up holding it back until this year like a lot of New Zealand bands,” says Derek.

Something notable about ‘Workhorse' is that it's the first album that Kokomo's new guitarist, Santiago Rebagliati, has played on.

'Santi' joined the band during lockdown last year so he's been with the band for about a year but this is the first thing he's recorded on,” says Derek.

'Santi's from South America and he has a distinct, different style and it was when he went to play ‘Workhorse Blues' we just all stood back and went: ‘Wow this is going to be good!'”

So far ‘Workhorse' has received attention in New Zealand, Australia and even Argentina.

'A few people have got in touch to say they're playing it on radio shows and not just in New Zealand which has been quite gratifying,” says Derek.

'Everyone hears music in their own way so I hope people bring their own experiences to ‘Workhorse' and get something out of it.”

Visit Kokomo's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/KOKOMO.NZblues to listen to ‘Workhorse' on a platform of your choice.

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