Jaiyede Afro (2014)
Jaiyede Afro brings together the vibrant saxophone of celebrated Nigerian musician Orlando Julius and edgy British psychedelic jazz band The Heliocentrics. The explosive mix contains jazz improvisation, Afrobeat, Yoruba roots, psychedelic music and much more.
“My parents used to tell us stories, folk tales and there were a lot of different stories involving tortoises – they often made tortoises sound like human beings,” says Orlando Julius about the opening track Buje Buje. “There was one about a tortoise who had a farm and I always thought, ‘how could a tortoise have a farm?!’ This tortoise is working on his farm and a pretty lady is passing by. So, he cuts his foot with his cutlass and pretends that he is injured so that he can get her attention. The lady comes over and tries to help him and he says, ‘I can’t work with this cut. Could I climb on your back to go to get help?’ She agrees, he climbs on her back and she starts to walk. He says, ‘I’m too far up, could you push me further down your back?’ Finally, the lady realizes that he is up to no good, she is very unhappy and tells him to find his own way. Once she has left, the tortoise continues to play this trick on other women.
“I made the story into a song and brought human nature into it – good people and bad people. The song teaches us not to copy something that is bad, fake or deceptive.”
Jaiyede Afro features early pieces from Julius career, some of which had never previously been recorded. To achieve a vintage sound, Jaiyede Afro was recorded at the Heliocentrics’ analog studio in North London.
Jaiyede Afro transports the listener to the exciting toe-tapping African rhythms of Nigeria and jazz-fueled jams.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
