The Shop is a Toronto-based jazz quintet carving its path in Canada’s jazz scene. The Shop’s sound is a cross-pollination of seemingly opposite genres. The band subtly combines influences of gospel, pop-punk, R&B, and African music with the band’s mutual foundation in jazz. The band consists of Bureh Bollo-Kamara on guitar, Connor Moe on saxophones & flutes, Omar Gittens on the drums, Racha Moukalled on the vibraphone, and Carlo Santo Domingo on the bass.

The quintet released its first LP, Far From Comfort, on May 30th, 2025. Formally an acoustic quartet named Bureh Bk & The Shop, Far From Comfort is also the band’s first release as The Shop. This long-awaited album is a product of the chemistry between the members of the ensemble that inspired the band’s transition to an electric sound.The compositions are intricate but accessible and singable. They are intentional but allow for freedom and each band member’s expression.

The identity of this album was developed over 2 years of playing most of the compositions in front of audiences throughout Toronto. “As we played these tunes repeatedly, we tried many things, subtracted and added elements, and shifted things around. Many ideas for the arrangements came from spontaneous decisions by one member during a performance that we all ended up following.” (Bureh Bollo-Kamara) The identity of The Shop is in live performance. Far From Comfort captures the band’s energy and gives listeners insight into its chemistry in live situations. Far From Comfort was recorded live off the floor by Liam Myrie at Redtones Studio Productions on January 5th, 2024.Far From Comfort was conceived by Bureh Bollo-Kamara. It's also the album's title track. “Far From Comfort was written late at night in my parents’ kitchen during a challenging period. It reminds me that growth happens in discomfort and that I should be grateful for the challenges.” The composition starts with a melancholy vibe for the first half and transitions to a high-energy second half that leans more into the band’s pop-punk influences. The album also features Be Kind, Far From Comfort’s lead single. Be Kind alludes to the band’s subtle African influences. However, it’s in an odd time signature. It features a beautiful rubato vibraphone solo mid-song by Racha Moukalled. The entire album takes listeners through the different emotions felt when the compositions were written. The album also introduces listeners to the people the compositions were inspired by.