Chiminyo - I Am Panda (2020) [Hi-Res]

"So expertly put together; just layer, upon layer, upon layer" - DJ Anne Frankenstein, Jazz FM

“Chiminyo is one of the real hidden forces in UK jazz.” - CLASH Magazine

“An album to get excited about.” - WWDaily, Worldwide FM


The long-awaited debut album by percussionist and producer Chiminyo is finally here. 'I Am Panda' weaves together a warm, enveloping tapestry of euphoric melodies, acoustic beats, and brain-burrowing bass lines, all originating from the hit of a drum. Via laboriously self-coded software, every cymbal crash and drum hit triggers a synth or sample, allowing Chiminyo complete control and creating a distinct sonic world like no other. Each track is different in tone and texture, with varying featured artists including K.O.G., Brother Portrait of Steam Down fame, and Eastern-European folk singer Dunja Botic.

The new album follows on from Chiminyo's 2019 debut EP "I Am Chiminyo", which served as a visceral introduction to his unique sound, and earned plaudits from the likes of Gilles Peterson, BBC 1Xtra, CLASH, Red Bull, Jazzwise, Jazz FM and more. As well as his own solo project, Chiminyo also performs and records with some of the leading figures of London’s music scene, including spiritual jazz-leaning outfit Maisha and psychedelic energy bomb Cykada. He has also previously collaborated and recorded with Gary Bartz, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Theon Cross, and Zara McFarlane.