Shakatak

Shakatak was formed in London in 1980. The original lineup included pianists Bill Sharpe and Nigel Wright, guitarist Keith Winter, bassist Steve Underwood, and drummer Roger Odell. The band quickly gained attention with their underground hit “Steppin”. The following year, they entered the UK Top 50 with “Livin’ in the UK” and “Brazilian Dawn”, both featured on their debut album Drivin’ Hard.

After replacing bassist Steve Underwood with George Anderson, Shakatak released their second album Nightbirds in 1982. The track “Easier Said Than Done” reached the Top 20, while the album’s title track entered the Top 10. The album also marked the debut of vocalist Jill Saward, who soon became the band’s lead singer — a role that defined the 1984 album Down on the Street, followed by their hit “Watching You”.

Following a live album in 1985, the band returned to the studio to work on Day by Day: City Rhythm, featuring the legendary Al Jarreau on the opening track.

A series of largely instrumental albums — Into the Blue, Golden Wings, Da Makani, and Niteflite — were released exclusively in Japan, where Shakatak achieved remarkable popularity. Earlier, in 1988, the album Manic and Coolbrought international recognition with tracks such as “Mr. Manic and Sister Cool” and “Something Special”.

The 1992 album Open Your Eyes topped Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, after which the band toured South Africa with the support of Street Level. The following year, Full Circle showed a shift toward hip-hop influences.

In 1997, Shakatak reunited in the lineup of Sharpe, Odell, Saward, and Anderson with “Let the Piano Play”, followed by the single “View from the City” in 1999.

Alongside an intense touring schedule, the band continued recording and released numerous successful albums over the next decade, including Under Your Spell (2002), Blue Savannah (2003), and Afterglow (2009). In 2010, Shakatakcelebrated their 30th anniversary, marking the occasion with the release of Across the World the following year. Later albums include On the Corner (2014) and Times and Places (2016).