Posts filed under 'Artists'
ObliqSound recording artist Somi makes her in-studio/on-air debut on WNYC’s Soundcheck with John Schaefer today at 2 pm! Somi will perform alongside platinum-selling electronic artist Moby, as they both perform live and chat in the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space.
Tune-in to www.wnyc.org for a live stream of Somi’s performance at 2PM EDT.
Don’t know Somi yet? Tune in to find out what other fans around the country discovered upon the release of If The Rains Come First. After a stunning review by Derek Rath on NPR’s All Things Considered, the album shot to #2 on the Billboard World Album Chart and #21 on the Billboard Heatseeker Albums this January.
Who else is talking about Somi? We’ll share a few with you:
#1 Album - JazzWeek World Music radio charts
Somi: 2009’s Artist of The Year - Of Note Magazine
“The American born daughter of parents from Rwanda and Uganda, Somi’s songs — and her singing — are compelling blends of traditional music, jazz and her own utter originality.” - Don Heckman, International Review of Music
“Singer-songwriter Somi is one serious talent.” - All About Jazz
“Born to Rwandan and Ugandan parents in Chicago, honey-voiced world jazz singer Somi has had one foot in the traditions of East Africa and the other in American culture her entire life.” - WNYC Culture
“Somi joins the elite ranks of first-class world music jazz-influenced singers with this, her third CD.” — All Music Guide
“This music manages to speak its own language of unity, togetherness and love.” - SoulMattersMag.com
“Best of 2009: Neo-soul with a heavy slab of Africa and a little dash of jazz…and it’s never been done better than this.” - SomethingElseReviews.com
“Somi’s latest op us definitely reveals an artist whose musical concepts have grown and evolved…The compositions are all original and reflect the unique musical vision of the artist. Check out how elegantly “Hot Blue” flows along like liquid silk until it segues into a marvelous rump-shaking tama driven romp.” — First World Music
“Somi’s voice is full bodied and sure.” — Time Out NY
“A superb singer” — Vogue
“Somi makes music that is probably unlike anything else you’ve heard this year — or will hear.A career defining moment for a truly special performer. Highly recommended.” — DirectCurrentMusic.com
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May 4th, 2010
We’re thrilled to share the great news that ObliqSound recording artist Gretchen Parlato has just been nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) for Best Female Singer of the Year in their annual awards contest.
Parlato, whose album “In A Dream” won top honors of Best Vocal Jazz Album of 2009 in the Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll, is nominated with the likes of Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roberta Gambarini, Sheila Jordan and Cassandra Wilson.
ObliqSound artist and harmonica phenom Gregoire Maret, and Blue Note Recording artist Lionel Loueke, who guests on “In A Dream” and recorded three albums with ObliqSound, are also nominated, among others.
Jazz and music publications around the USA happily reported on the nominations for the JJA’s annual awards, presented in a broad range of categories covering the music as well as those who cover and present the music. The awards will be given out at a special gala event held at City Winery in New York City on the afternoon of June 14, 2010. The event will be emceed by Terrance McKnight of WQXR-FM.
Read more information and full list of nominees on the JJA Jazz Awards website.
Join us by spreading the news and following ObliqSound on Twitter, and sharing our good news. And don’t forget to pick up a copy of “In A Dream” today!
Download a FREE track as a token of our thanks and receive 20% off your purchase
April 28th, 2010
Backdrop and ObliqSound proudly present Independent Music Award Winner MICHAEL OLATUJA’s newest…
“Ma Foya (Remixes)” by Michael Olatuja featuring Lynden David Hall - available now at digital retailers everywhere worldwide!
Ma Foya, the first single from British/Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja’s award-winning album Speak features vocals by the late, great Lynden David Hall. With lyrics in both Yoruba and English, intense African rhythms, and an assortment of remixes from such notable studio impresarios as John Morales, Duce Martinez and Jason Michael Webb of the SubUrban remix team, this track encompasses the essence of Olatuja’s artistic vision. Each remixer applies his own creative brush strokes while keeping the focus on the soul, groove and deep spirituality that lie at the heart of the song.
The title “Ma Foya” is Yoruba for “Don’t Be Afraid,” a message the echoes throughout the track. Heavily promoted at this year’s Winter Music Conference, these remixes are now being heard on dancefloors around the world and will surely among this summer’s dance anthems.
Preview the remixes:
M+M Mellow Mood Mix
Duce Is Wild Dub
SubUrban’s Small Room Remix
Buy The Single Now!
iTunes Juno Amazon eMusic Rhapsody
Exclusive Bonus Track Edition available at Traxsource
Ma Foya is dedicated to the loving memory of neo-soul vocalist Lynden David Hall, who blessed the record with his signature vocal style. Hall passed away in 2006.
April 26th, 2010
We’ve been on a tear lately at ObliqSound and our newest upcoming tunes will be no exception! Tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 25th, we hope you’ll look into the future with us and checkout a special advance preview show from ObliqSound recording artist Max Wild at Manhattan’s DROM, located at 85 Avenue A.
Max will unite with vocalist and mbira star Chiwoniso to create a soundscape that transcends cultural divides with their unique fusion of jazz, funk, and ancient African melodies. Driven by the mesmerizing interlocking textures of the mbira and saxophone, the group is backed by the deep groove of an international all-star lineup from the United States and Zimbabwe. They’ll be playing music from Chiwoniso’s hit Rebel Woman (out now on Cumbancha) and previewing Max Wild’s upcoming album TAMBA featuring Chiwoniso - which will release on ObliqSound later this spring. Don’t forget to tell your friends and get your tickets early! Doors open at 7, show begins at 8 pm!
Tell your friends - spread the love on Twitter, invite them on Facebook or just shout it from the hilltops! More below (click to share online, too!)
February 24th, 2010
John Ellis is gearing up for a busy 2010. On February 23, ObliqSound will release Puppet Mischief, the Brooklyn saxophonist’s second album with his New Orleans-based band Double-Wide, which in addition to Ellis features Brian Coogan on organ, Matt Perrine on sousaphone and Jason Marsalis on drums, plus special guest Gregoire Maret on harmonica and Alan Ferber on trombone. The recording continues the former New Orleanian’s love affair with the Big Easy, drawing inspiration from the rich vein of music the city has given the world, while also taking cues, in Ellis’ own words, from “carnivals, state fairs, children laughing, clowns and dancing.”
Ellis, now 35 has never been an artist who stays in one artistic place very long. Born in North Carolina, he took piano lessons as a child, soon switched to clarinet, and first became seriously drawn to music when he heard the music of legendary ragtime composer Scott Joplin. After moving to New Orleans, Ellis’ jazz chops improved radically as he gigged with the likes of Ellis Marsalis and Walter Payton. After three years in the Big Easy, he went north to New York City, graduating from the New School and settling into the city’s thriving jazz scene. Along the way, Ellis spent six years as a member of jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter’s group, cutting four albums with them while also developing his own sound. He cut his debut as a leader, The Language of Love, in 1996, then didn’t record under his own name again until 2002, when he released the critically acclaimed Roots, Branches and Leaves. That was followed by One Foot in the Swamp (2005), By a Thread (2006), and 2008’s Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow, his first with Double-Wide.
Puppet Mischief’s highlights begin from its very first funky moments. The leadoff track, “Okra & Tomatoes,” takes its title from a phrase that represents life’s perfect pairings. That’s followed by “Fauxfessor,” a tightly synced, off-kilter New Orleans romp full of surprising twists. Among the album’s other standouts are the wild, teasing title track, featuring a stunning harmonica solo by Maret, and the back-to-back “Carousel” and “Dubinland Carnival.” The former, which Ellis calls a “wistful circus tune,” takes on a bluesy patina and incorporates several dramatic transitions, while its companion piece, which Ellis likens to the feel of a Fellini film, features an epic sax-trombone conversation and some of Marsalis’ most fired-up drumming of the set.
The release of Puppet Mischief follows up one of the busiest years in Ellis’ career, one that saw him accompanying a diverse array of musicians ranging from Sting to Mos Def to the Cuban drummer Ignacio Berroa, touring Europe with the John Patitucci Trio and other artists and, most significantly, the debut of The Ice Siren, Ellis’ hour-long through-composed narrative composition for string quartet, tuba, percussion, guitar, vibes, winds and two singers. The piece, a collaborative effort with playwright Andy Bragen, debuted at the Jazz Gallery in New York in May 2009.
John Ellis & Double-Wide will perform throughout 2010. Upcoming winter dates include:
March 1 | 8X10 | Baltimore, MD
March 2 | World Cafe Live | Philadelphia, PA
March 3 | Beehive | Boston, MA
March 4 | Red Square | Albany, NY
March 5 | Jazz Gallery | New York, NY
March 6 | Jazz Gallery | New York, NY
For full artist biography, photos, audio clips from Puppet Mischief and more, check out these handy websites:
www.obliqsound.com
www.johnaxsonellis.com
www.myspace.com/johnellisband
www.facebook.com/johnellisband
February 5th, 2010
Click below to read the full review and hear the track - Weak can’t be heard anyplace else in full until the album’s release on August 25th, so enjoy and spread the word! Read, listen, and pre-order now on Amazon.com.
July 21st, 2009
Join us for two special pre-release shows for ObliqSound vocalist Somi, as she debuts her new album If The Rains Come First. This Thursday, July 9, Somi hits New York’s famed Joe’s Pub and then heads up to Montreal on Saturday, July 11 for a featured spot at the legendary Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Scheduled for release in October 2009, Somi’s new work showcases her whimsically clever songwriting & pure vocal beauty against electro-acoustic soundscapes that offer a modern look at classic soul and Africa’s future. Be the first to hear it, and join us as we celebrate the beginning of her new musical journey. East African artist Somi is originally from Rwanda and Uganda, but has made West Harlem her home over the past five years. Her critically acclaimed album Red Soil In My Eyes (Harmonia Mundi, 2007) maintained a spot in the top 10 world music charts for several weeks after its release while she performed to audiences across four continents. She has since worked with or performed alongside the likes of Paul Simon, John Legend, Hugh Masekela, Amel Larrieux, Roy Hargrove, Idan Raichel, and Mos Def.
Thursday, July 9 (Doors at 7 PM, show at 7:30 PM):
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, New York City
Advance Tickets are highly recommended and for sale HERE
$20 at the door
Saturday, July 11 at 9 PM:
Montreal International Jazz Festival
L’Astral (Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan), 305 Sainte-Catherine Street West, Montreal, Canada
$22.50 (Tickets available HERE)
July 8th, 2009
Massimo Biolcati’s debut album, Persona, is the Vox Populi winner for Best Jazz Album of the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards! We couldn’t be more ecstatic, considering the Vox Populi award is an honor bestowed purely by you, the listeners. Fans of Persona fell in love with Massimo’s unique style and so should you!
The album features Biolcati, Jeff Ballard, Peter Rende and Lionel Loueke in quartet, with vocal guests Lizz Wright and Gretchen Parlato. Persona is also an homage to the classic Ingmar Bergman film of the same name. Give it a listen on our site, or learn more about this glorious display of democracy at the Independent Music Awards’ website and online jukebox.
June 23rd, 2009
British/Nigerian bassist presents uplifting musical vision as composer and producer
NEW YORK - Speak, the title of bassist Michael Olatuja’s debut album, holds deep personal meaning for its creator, exemplifying in a single word the album’s underlying themes of hope, encouragement, inspiration and positivity. The album, which will be released on July 28 on Backdrop, ObliqSound’s sub-label focusing on modern electronic and groove-based music, tells the story of the British/Nigerian artist’s musical and personal journey. “The language of music is one that we all speak,” Olatuja explains. “It unites diverse cultures.”
The ten songs on Speak find Olatuja stepping out of his role as sideman and finally presenting his personal vision as producer and composer. With musical influences and guests from around the world, the album touches on each spot Olatuja has hit around the globe, including his childhood in London and Lagos, Nigeria, and his professional years in London and New York. Speak is clearly the album Olatuja has been working toward his entire career and points to a strong future.
Chances are you’ve already heard Olatuja’s extraordinarily creative musicianship. His work has enlivened the performances of Terence Blanchard, Patti Austin, Lisa Stansfield, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Gretchen Parlato and many others.
Olatuja, 28, began crafting the music that would become Speak as long ago as 2003. From the genesis of the project he knew what he wanted to accomplish. From there, the music took shape organically as the pieces fell into place, Olatuja calling upon a large cast of musicians to assist him in realizing the self-produced project, including several singers who alternate on lead vocals: Eska Mtungwazi, Andrew Roachford, Terri Walker, Onaje Jefferson, Michael’s wife Alicia Olatuja and the late neo-soul artist Lynden David Hall.
On Speak, Olatuja finds commonalities among the various genres that have shaped his artistry, beginning with the indigenous, traditional sounds that formed his roots during his youth in Nigeria. “I grew up in a church that sang Yoruba Christian songs and played Yoruba style music,” he recalls. “I honed my skills playing in many Yoruba music bands. So when it came to songwriting this influence came out naturally.”
At age 11, Olatuja picked up a bass guitar for the first time, and within five years, he was playing professionally, absorbing everything he heard along the way, including soul, jazz, R&B, gospel and more. Influences such as guitarist George Benson and jazz bassists John Patitucci and Richard Bona, who Olatuja calls his “teacher and mentor,” helped shape his musical world. Additional schooling in both the U.K. at Middlesex University and in the U.S. at Manhattan School of Music sharpened Olatuja’s chops and allowed him to mix it up with world-class artists who quickly came to appreciate his gifts.
His 2004 move to New York gave him the impetus he needed to put it all together. “As a writer, New York encouraged me to be original, because there are so many artists out there,” he says. “Jazz encouraged the freedom to improvise, soul encouraged me to do it from the heart, R&B encouraged an undeniable deep groove and world music encouraged me not to forget my roots. Gospel gives it all a sense of purpose; it inspires and uplifts.”
All of those musical characteristics are well represented and interwoven ingeniously on Speak. Olatuja incorporates such hallmarks of traditional African music as the talking drum and hand drums (conga and djembe), call-and-response vocals and the Yoruba language, while working comfortably with musical vocabularies more familiar to Western ears: neo-soul balladry, hip-hop, modern jazz and deep groove.
The opening track, “Ma Foya” (Yoruba for “don’t fear”), is built upon a propulsive West African hi-life rhythmic pattern and classic Philly soul vocals. It features a lead vocal by Lynden David Hall, who intones, “Don’t be afraid in times of trouble/it’s all in the way you rise above,” over a battery of grooving hand drums, massed background vocals and guitar. “Ma Foya” will be released later in 2009 as a single with remixes.
On the silky ballad “Unconditional,” Olatuja boldly plucks his bass strings in tandem with smooth guitar licks and evocative keyboard lines as wife Alicia (who co-wrote the song) pays tribute to the value of a lover who remains true and steadfast. “Yi Yipada,” Olatuja says, reminds us that “change is the only permanent thing in life.” One of the most exhilarating tracks on the album, “Yi Yipada” is highlighted by a deep, odd-metered bassline, intricate keyboard work and precision drumming all in tight interplay with Mtungwazi’s scatted vocal improvisation.
Lyrically, the music on Speak is also infused with Olatuja’s strong Christian roots. On the lightly funky “Hold On,” over a soulful organ, Hall sings Olatuja’s words: “If you’re one of those who think there’s nowhere left to fall, perhaps you should remember to get up and walk tall.” The ballad “Altar Call” speaks about someone who realizes that God is calling them to a better life, to have the freedom to choose what is right.
“Walk With Me,” a traditional gospel number—and the only tune on Speak not written or co-written by Olatuja—glides along on a ¾ syncopated bass ostinato, reminiscent of McCoy Tyner and Kenny Kirkland, and develops into a ¾ straight-ahead groove, leading to an exploratory, nuanced conversation between all the instrumentalists.
The nine-minute “Mama Ola,” which features saxophonist Jean Toussaint and pianist Jason Rebello, is a poetic jazz tribute to Olatuja’s late mother, Comfort Bola Olatuja, and hosts the most complex musical interaction on the album. “Le Jardin” (The Garden), with vocal by Onaje Jefferson, is pure R&B in the mode of classic Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway. The title track, infused with a hip-hop sensibility, features rapper TY inspiring the listener to “Speak! Speak up!”
Olatuja is already taking what he’s learned and helping other artists realize their own dreams. In addition to planning his own busy touring schedule, just this year, in fact, he co-produced ObliqSound artist Somi’s forthcoming album, which includes a track featuring the legendary Hugh Masekela.
Olatuja’s deep spirituality and unshaken belief in the power of the positive lies at the heart of every track on Speak. It makes perfect sense that Michael Olatuja titled the album what he did: Speak speaks volumes, and it speaks to everyone.
For more info: Michael Olatuja on MySpace and Backdrop
May 19th, 2009
Surely, you already have Massimo Biolcati’s album Persona on your iPod, but did you know you could easily have his handiwork on your iPhone, too? In addition to being a masterful bassist and composer as a soloist on Persona, and as a member of Gilfema, he’s also the developer of the iRealBook for iPhone.
A professional tool for touring jazz musicians or jazz students, the iRealBook:
is a collection of chord sheets of jazz standards, jazz classics, brazilian classics and more. With the iPhone’s back lit display, sheets can be easily read in a dark jazz club. How many times have you been at a jam session or a gig where someone calls a tune and you don’t know the chord changes? Well, sweat no more, with iReal Book you’ll have the chord changes to all the songs you need in your pocket.
Be an early adopter - check out the iPhone app and Persona - and tell your friends.
(credit: Axel Oberg for the New York Times)
Still curious? See pictures of Massimo’s bedroom in this weekend’s New York Times’ real estate section (really!) in the feature “Musicians Preferred; Loud Music O.K.“ The article about a unique apartment building where Massimo and many other touring artists live includes a photo slide show of Mr. Biolcati’s apartment, set to a Biolcati original improvisation on acoustic bass.
May 5th, 2009
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