Ajoyo (Ropeadope RAD264, 2015)
Ajoyo is a superb new Afro-rooted band. Their debut album Ajoyo is one of the finest recordings in this category I’ve heard so far this year. Ajoyo mixes Cameroonian traditional rhythms with Afrobeat, soul and contemporary jazz.
The multinational band features artists from various parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the United States. The music selection is varied, from call and response songs to beautifully composed instrumental sections.
The band les led by French multi-instrumentalist and composer Yacine Boulares . He recruited emerging jazz vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles, who crosses jazz, soul and Afrobeat boundaries with ease.
While I find many Afrobeat bands monotonous, Ajoyo goes far beyond Afrobeat, with extensive jazz excursions, featuring memorable multi-reed solos by Boulares and guitarist Alon Albagli who delivers a fabulous jazz fusion solo on ‘Idanwo.’
Boulares grew up in Paris, born in a family of Tunisian heritage. “It was a challenge for me to understand my Arabic heritage,” recalls Boulares. He traveled to Tunisia during summers to study Arabic and discover more of his heritage. He showcases that Tunisian influence on ‘Houb Ouna,’ a composition that blends Tunisian rhythms with sub-Saharan elements, following the path of slaves and migrants from the south to the north.
Thanks to a Fulbright scholarship he moved to New York, where he met influential Cameroonian drummer Jojo Kuo who encouraged him to combine Cameroonian beats with jazz. For the debut album, Boulares recruited Cameroonian bassist Fred Doumbe, New Orleans trumpeter Linton Smith, Barbadian percussionist Foluso Mimy, French drummer Guilhem Flouzat, Israeli guitarist Alon Albagli on guitar, Turkish-German keyboardist Can Olgun, and American vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Co-producer Jacques Schwarz-Bart contributes tenor sax on one piece.
Ajoyo is a splendid debut album by one of the most interesting new bands in the New York Afro-rooted world music scene.
Buy Ajoyo
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.
