Adédèjì – Yoruba Odyssey (One World Records, 2022)
“Yoruba Odyssey” is the third album by the fantastic Nigerian singer, guitarist and composer Adedeji Adetayo, better known as Adédèjì. The album presents a set of songs grounded in traditional Yoruba, Afrobeat, funk, soul, blues, jazz and beyond.
Adédèjì and his band take the listener on a fun and wild ride with engaging songs that feature some of the finest players in the Nigerian scene. “Yoruba Odyssey” is skillfully crafted, with Adédèjì’s creative guitar lines, magnetic harmonies, call and response vocals, insistent horns, female and male backing vocals.
“Yoruba Odyssey” was recorded during 3 days in Lagos, Nigeria, at the iconic Afrodisia/Decca Studio, that previously welcomed giants like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey.
The lyrics are sung in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English. In the texts, Adédèjì reaffirms the traditional identity of Yoruba Culture using riddles and proverbs, as well as talking about the community. “Every aspect of the human life, depicts a form of sojourn or the other. From the previous albums ‘Àjò’ through the double dose of ‘Afreekanism’ to this point of the Lagos experience, let your mind transverse the cosmos”, Adédèjì says.
Adédèjì started singing in a church choir in Lagos. By the age of 10, he became the leader of the choir. His first album, ‘Ajo’, featured Lionel Loueke, was well received internationally and won the VNO NCW Noord Talent Award, The Netherlands
In 2012, Adédèjì’s second album, ‘Afreekanism’, won the LBM Awards for ‘Best Afro Fusion Artist’ in Nigeria in 2017.
Lineup: Adedeji Adetayo on lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, kalimba, shekere, agogo and udu; Samuel Olawale on keyboards and synthesizers; Victor Ademofe on trumpet; Godwin Phillip on trumpet; Raphael Lasisi on tenor saxophone; Sam Marlieri on alto and tenor saxophone; Segun Atoyebi on alto and tenor saxophone; Timi Adewunmi on baritone saxophone; Kostas Vasouras on baritone saxophone; Jim Staridas on trombone; Wale Akindiya, Kayode Kuti and Yoel Soto on bass; Samuel Obinna and Laolu Ajibade on drums; Abiodun Oke on congas and shekere; Rodrigo Rodriguez on congas, shekere, timbales, agogo and timba; Taiwo Adeagbo on talking drums, batás, omele and sakara; and Ebun Arowosegbe, Mary Shobowale, Bola Adewole, and Tunde Adetayo on backing vocals.
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.