The Band
our story
The Lost Tribe is a collective of musicians that research, remix and redefine the musical traditions of the African Diaspora. Led by drummer and percussionist Jocelyn Pleasant, their sound winds through many genres that are rooted in West African rhythms and sensibilities. The group was started to provide a platform for musicians of different but overlapping communities to come together – with the drum as the leading instrument in performance and compositional contexts. Specifically, the Lost Tribe’s sound blends jembe music with African Diasporic genres like jazz, funk, rock, reggae and hip hop.
The Tribe’s initial home base was MAC650 Gallery, an artist-run co-op space in Middletown, CT. Many of the musicians in the group, past and present, were reared in some of CT’s premier arts institutions like the Artists Collective, The Hartt School of Music and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts (GHAA). These institutions have cultivated a “Hartford sound” that can be heard in jazz-infused horn solos and the driving drum rhythms of the group. Connecticut roots are vital to the sound and direction of the group but each member also brings their own flavor and cultural background to the music. Song arrangements are fluid, and each musician is encouraged to bring their personality to the forefront. This mixture of energies creates a unique blend that is palpable to audiences, inviting participation and a sense of joy. Each performance tells a story – building on a rhythmic foundation, expanding into a variety of sonic directions, weaving in lyrics and poetry with themes of Black culture and identity.
Lost Tribe performances often include various special guests that reflect the large talent pool of their community. Regardless of the line-up, the staples of a Tribe performance are energy, stage presence and GROOVE. They have opened for international acts Mokoomba (Zimbabwe), Trio da Kali (Mali) and Orquestra Macabeo (Puerto Rico), Dave East at the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival (2022), were a featured artist at the 2018 Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, and won first place at the 2019 Valley Music Showcase (of Western Massachusetts). Their eclectic collection of music is available for purchase exclusively on Bandcamp, including the following:
The Band
Jocelyn Pleasant
(Founder)
Jocelyn Pleasant (musical direction/arrangements, drum set, percussion) is a percussionist, drummer, and educator, originally from Bloomfield, Connecticut. Her music studies began in her school band program, then branched out to the Hartt School Community Division and Jackie McLean’s Artists Collective (Hartford, CT). She continued her studies in Washington, DC, as a Presidential Arts Scholar at The George Washington University. Jocelyn is currently pursuing a PhD in Ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University after finishing her M.A. at the same institution in 2020. Jocelyn’s performance credits on drum set and percussion are extensive and showcase her versatility and ability to play many genres of music. For example, she has performed on numerous occasions with her teacher and mentor, vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, with Guinean guitarist Mamady Kouyate (Bembeya Jazz, Mandingo Ambassadors), and on multiple occasions in NYC’s Lady Got Chops Jazz Festival with various artists including Linda Oh, Sumi Tonooka, Kim Clarke and Nicki Mathis. In 2019, she performed in Senegal, West Africa with The Senegal America Project, a group that includes Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets) and Massamba Diop (Baaba Maal, Black Panther). In addition to leading The Lost Tribe, she is currently the percussionist for The Afro Semitic Experience and co-leader of tap-n-jazz ensemble Medusa, both based in Connecticut.
I-SHEA
(Core member)
I-SHEA (percussion, vocals) is part of The Lost Tribe’s front drum line as conguera/percussionist and vocalist, starting in 2019. I-SHEA is an eclectic ARTist and musician aka ‘The Original Jewminican’ who comes from the source of hip hop and raised in the sauce of merengue, bolero, rumba, salsa, nyabinghi and West African rhythms. I-SHEA has lit up the east/west coast USA, Canada, Latin America, The Caribbean, and Africa, performing at legendary venues like Daniel Sorano National Theatre of Dakar, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The Apollo in Harlem. She has opened up for Dead Prez, Sadat X (from Brand Nubian), and Morgan Heritage and has shared stages/performances with Howard Zinn, Rha Goddess, Rosario Dawson, Angie Martinez, Jane Fonda and Eve Einsler to name a few.
Chris vigorous
(Core member)
Christian J. Reid (percussion/vocals), also known as Chris Vigorous, is a young musician/performing artist based out of Hartford, CT. Chris Vigorous uses his energetic percussive skills to inspire others. He began drumming at an early age in Hartford at the Artists Collective and with Hartford Proud Drum and Drill. A graduate of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, he has performed nationally and internationally on snare drum, as well as lent his production skills to various dancehall artists. He has been a member of the Lost Tribe since 2019.
Nathan Davis
(Core member)
Nathan Davis (trombone) graduated from The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz within The University of Hartford’s Hartt School in May of 2016 with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Jazz Studies. In September of 2018, he started as part of the inaugural class in the Master’s of Music in Jazz Studies Degree Program within the same institution. Nathan Davis has performed with many artists and ensembles throughout Connecticut. He is also a faculty member at The Artists Collective, Inc. in Hartford, Connecticut. He has been a member of The Lost Tribe since its inception in late 2016.
Karim Rome (1993-2023)
(Core member)
Karim Rome (tenor sax) is a Hartford based saxophonist. Learning music at GHAA and the Artist’s Collective led him to attend Hartt school of Music. He has continued to play in the tri-state area and internationally with Hassan Hakmoun, The Lost Tribe and various Hartford based artists. He has been part of the Tribe since 2017.
Joel Hewitt
(Core member)
Joel Hewitt (bass): “I play bass and sometimes percussion in The Lost Tribe. Being with the Lost Tribe family has been and currently remains one of the greatest influences on my playing. Growing and learning from Hartford’s music scene has really opened my eyes to so many different cultures and has inspired me to connect to my craft. All of my bandmates have been so important in my life and I’m always gaining some new perspective working with so many different personalities and disciplines. I’ll be in the back holding down the low end!” Joel has been part of the Tribe since its inception in late 2016.
Michael Carabello
(Core member)
Michael Carabello (keyboards) is a multi-genre pianist out of the Greater Hartford and New Haven area. As a product of the Artists Collective Youth Jazz Orchestra under master artist in resident Rene McLean , as well as the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of music, Mike makes strides to be apart of many branches of Black American Music while keeping his influences rooted such as Bud Powell, Mulgrew Miller, and Hotep Galeta. Carabello has studied piano under pianists such as Rick Germanson, Andy Laverne, and Alan Palmer. He has worked with bassist Nat Reeves, drummer Ronnie Burrage, saxophonist Rene McLean, trombonist Steve Davis, and drummer Jonathan Barber. He has performed at The White House for First Lady Michelle Obama, The Ninth Note Jazz Club, Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Club, The Side Door Jazz Club, and The Rubber City Jazz Festival. He is currently apart of working bands including The Lost Tribe and Erica T. Bryan and the New Mosaic. He has been with Lost Tribe since 2018.
Douglas Wilson
(Core member)
Douglas Wilson (guitar) was born with a true passion for the arts. He was first introduced into performing arts when he was 7, playing violin. He later took up the guitar at the age of 10 and began to teach himself how to play. At the age of 15 he created his first band and began to perform in the Greater Hartford area. Doug now plays in several bands as well as playing every Sunday at St. Johns Congregational Chuch. Doug also has played with Robert Randolph, Lucky Peterson, J.J. Harriston and many more! He has also helped to write and direct and write music for several local artists. He has been part of The Lost Tribe since 2018.
DJ STEALTH (ASAAD JACKSON)
(Core member)
DJ Stealth (born Asaad Jackson in Hartford, CT) is known for his jazz inspired approach to the art of DJing. Jackson has studied music since the age of 10, training primarily on the trumpet before moving to percussion, steel pan and piano. His music education includes The Hartford Conservatory (Classical and Jazz trumpet) and The Artists Collective, where he played trumpet with the Youth Jazz Orchestra and was an African Percussion apprentice, eventually becoming an instructor there for 8 years. Stealth started learning how to DJ in high school while he was an intern on Hartford’s 89.9 WQTQ FM. He first started spinning professionally at the age of 21 and has built an extensive resume ever since. Some of Stealth’s most notable appearances include the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival (Hartford), Hygienic Hip Hop Festival (New London), Jersey Fresh Festival (Trenton NJ), 2017 Afropunk Battle Of The Bands (Brooklyn NY), The Shrine (Harlem NY) and Shawnee Riverfest 2019 and 2021 (Monroe, PA). DJ Stealth performs alongside Hartford based artists Self Suffice and Tang Sauce and is the official DJ for the CT based B boy/B girl crew United Outkast. He joined the Lost Tribe in 2021 and is extensively featured on their EP, WLCT Radio.
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Dylan mcdonnell
Dylan McDonnell (flute, alto saxophone) is a multi-instrumentalist, improviser, and music therapist currently based in Philadelphia, PA. Growing up in New Haven, CT, Dylan began playing the flute at ten years old, under the tutelage of band instructors in the New Haven Public Schools. Towards the end of high school, Dylan began studying bebop flute with Jackie McLean student Kris Jensen. Dylan then studied with Naomi Senzer, Alex Cummings, and Zoe Sorrell while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Studies with a concentration in Ethnomusicology at Oberlin College and Conservatory. Following his undergraduate studies, Dylan returned to New Haven and was privileged to spend the next several years learning from and performing with artists that draw on musics of Mande West Africa, South Africa, and the African diaspora; Black American music; Celtic music; and alternative rock including JOATA, Thabisa, Mamady Kouyate, Phat A$tronaut, Xavier Serrano, and others. Dylan began doubling on alto saxophone in 2017. He is currently finishing a Master of Music Therapy degree at Temple University while working full-time as a music therapist at Friends Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia. Dylan has collaborated frequently with The Lost Tribe since 2020.
seny TATCHOL Camara
(Founding member)
Born in New Haven, CT in 1998 and raised by two master dancers, Seny Tatchol Camara was immersed in West African drum and dance from infancy. Under his parents Aly Tatchol Camara and Cheree Knight-Camara’s guidance, as well as many former members of the national ballets of Guinea, Seny became a prodigy at a very early age. With recorded performances as early as age 4, he quickly gained experience. By age 10, Seny was the lead drummer of his father’s company, Kouffin Kanecke and head liaison for all business dealings. Through his teens he traveled throughout the East Coast becoming a well respected artist, being hailed for his deep understanding in the connection between thousand year old West African traditions and modern philosophies he learned growing up in the United States. After graduating from Hill Regional Career High School, Seny began his professional career. At a state and private level Seny has worked with universities such as Yale, Wesleyan, University of New Haven, and many more. He is a founding member of the Lost Tribe and is featured prominently on their first EP, Diaspora.
matt belliveau
(Founding member)
Matt Belliveau is a born and raised CT guitarist. His early musical influences inspired him to pursue a playing style that eventually led to him becoming the youngest ever recipient of the Steve Vai Scholarship to the National Guitar Workshop at age 11. As time went on, Matt became fascinated with tracing connections between who influenced his influences and how music had come to be what it was. With guitar in hand all the while, Matt became acquainted with a wide variety of styles including blues, folk, soul, funk, jazz and more. He went on to study jazz guitar performance at Central Connecticut State University which gave him a chance to explore his love of improvisation. He currently performs with the Sue Gallagher Duo, the Matt Belliveau Trio and The Lost Tribe. He is a founding member of the Tribe, being featured prominently on their first EP, Diaspora.
Jamemurrell stanley
Before Jamemurrell was able to walk or talk, he would lay on his back singing and mumbling the rhythms that he heard while at drum and dance class. This was only the beginning. At the age of 14 Jamemurrell traveled to Senegal West Africa to expand his knowledge of African culture and music. Jamemurrell began studying intensely under Jah Amen And Leon Mobley, Direct students of Nigerian master drummer Babatunde Olatunji and also under the directorship of Senegalese master drummer Ibraham Camara (former drummer for the National Ballet of Senegal). All this time Jamemurrell was Building a reputation for himself and his music on the Boston music scene.
Jamemurrell has worked with Boston based groups Silmbo’ Aden with Fatou Ndiaye, Group Mande under the direction of Mohammed “Joh” Camara, Art of Black Dance and Music, Unity African Dance and Theater company with his mother Akila Stanley as well with his uncle Leon Mobley and Da lion of L.A. California. His band credits include, Charlie Brown Blues band. (Berklee’s African/pop, Jazz, and pop/R&B ensembles), Troupe Saloum, Jama Jigi, Samba Lolo, Toussaint The Liberator, Buru Style, , Rebirth, Mafanti, And Mass. Production. Jamemurrell has played master dance classes for Chuck Davis, Youseff Koumbassa, Cairo Diallo, Lamin Thiem, Djian Tie, Mohammed Camara, Kissima Diabate, Abdoulaye Sylla, Sekou Sylla, Marilyn Middleton Sylla, and Mohammed “Joh” Camara. He is currently the percussionist for legendary jam band Max Creek. Jamemurrell has performed with The Lost Tribe since 2017 and appears on many of their recordings, including Diaspora and Back to The Source