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).