LIRA MUSIC MAGAZINE

Review Adédèjì "Yoruba Odyssey" One World Records 2022

It's a party from the first bars of Nigerian artist Adédèjì's third album, Yoruba Odyssey. The first track is driven by fast rhythmical instruments, horns and tongue-twisting vocals. It's tight, intense, energetic, funky and jazzy. And it continues in that style with a range of advanced musicians, including a hefty horn section, rhythm section and female and male backing vocalists so that the soundscape is nice and tight and swinging. The album also features some quieter tracks where Adédèjì shows off some fine guitar playing and a soulful velvety vocal.

The album is an exploration of his own roots in the Yoruba tradition and growing up in the capital city of Lagos. This odyssey is imbued with a retro feel, influences can be heard from predecessors such as King Sunny Adé and Fela Kuti and the highlife music of the 1970s. But at the same time, Adédèjì has made his own mark with elements of sophisticated jazz and soul.

Curiosity: Adédèjì Adetayo started singing in a church choir as a child and became the choir's leader at the age of ten.

Susanne Holmberg, LIRA, 18 Nov 2022

MOORS MAGAZINE

Review Adédèjì "Yoruba Odyssey" One World Records 2022

Adédèjì grew up in the Nigerian metropolis of Lagos, and this is reflected in his music – this is big city music, in which jazz, funk, blues, rock, and soul also make room for the traditional Yoruba music he grew up with. The result is a buzz of excitement, with rhythms that are both intricate and simple – try to sit still with this music! – great guitar playing, fantastic horns and a tight band that made me very happy.

Yoruba Odyssey was recorded in just three days at the Afrodisia/Decca Studio in Lagos, where the likes of Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey recorded. The arrangements are phenomenal – the first time you are actually mainly swinging to this music, but with repeated listening you only hear how beautifully the singing is done together and how wonderful the arrangements are put together – this is a growth record that you can listen to endlessly listen. Sublime picture!

Holly Moors, MOORS MAGAZINE, November 2022

HEAVEN

Album of the week

Adédèji – Yoruba Odyssey - One World Records 2022
It's not easy to follow in the footsteps of a legendary musician like Fela Kuti, and while we wouldn't argue that the afrobeat of Nigerian singer, guitarist and composer Adédèjì reaches quite the same level on Yoruba Odyssey, he, with his extensive band, is close by.

HEAVEN, Eric van Domburg Scipio, 7. November, 2022

B RITMOS 

Review Adédèjì "Yoruba Odyssey" One World Records 2022

This is the third album by this Nigerian singer and guitarist, who has been living in Athens, Greece, since 2007. His biography tells us that at the age of five he joined a church choir in Lagos and by the age of ten he was already the choir leader. As a young man he worked recording radio jingles, commercials and collaborating with local artists in Nigeria. He later studied music technology and creative arts, graduating from the London College of Music and as a jazz guitarist/vocalist at the Prince Claus Conservatoire in the Netherlands. In addition, his two previous albums have been recognised with various awards. All this information is enough to know that we are dealing with a very experienced musician who has been able to blend traditional African music with contemporary jazz, rhythmic funk and soul music. All this musical fusion is evident because Adédèjì recognises his musical references, which in addition to Fela Kuti also include George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Prince and James Brown.

For the conception of this album, he went to Lagos, Nigeria, and in just three days he recorded it at the legendary Afrodisia/Decca Studios. He did it with a powerful rhythm section, a splendid brass section and the privileged accompaniment of a spectacular choir of female voices. This new album further strengthens Adédèjì's musical approach, which goes back to his roots and is based on progressive jazz-funk, spiced up with classic and explosive Afrobeat. Furthermore, the album is sung in Yoruba (the Yoruba make up approximately 30% of Nigeria's population), English and pidgin English (the lingua franca in Nigeria). In his lyrics, he reclaims traditional Yoruba culture, sings about the diaspora and what it means for an African to live in Europe.
The album opens with the long and irresistible Afrobeat Oruku. While there is another vibrant sample of that genre on the album, Shyphiliezation, where the winds keep up an urgent and sometimes even unrestrained rhythm. However, in tracks such as the funky Ojeje, or the joyful Tales of Agege, we can notice that clear influence of George Benson, where the voice and the guitar sound the same and in unison.
We can also find in the joyful Ololufe Mi a perfect sample of how the highlife style, precursor of Afrobeat, sounds in the 21st century.
There are also moments for relaxation and there is the reference to Stevie Wonder in Lagos Blues with those female voices supporting Adédèjì's voice.
But perhaps the most representative track of the album is the long Gbanja, because in its more than ten minutes, the power of this band can be appreciated. Brass, backing vocals, melody and rhythm fit perfectly in this sweeping Afrobeat that promises to be a pleasure to listen to live.
As Adédèjì himself says "this is an album to enjoy and to feel good".

Miguel Amorós, B RITMOS, 2. November 2022  

REVIEW WORLD MUSIC CENTRAL

Adédèjì – Yoruba Odyssey (One World Records, 2022)

Thrilling Yoruba Funk and Afrobeat by Adédèjì

'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. 

Adédèjì started singing in a church choir in Lagos at 6. 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.

“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 on Yoruba Odyssey: let your mind transverse the cosmos” Adédèjì says.

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 Show (Mary Sobowale), Bola Adewole and Tunde Adetayo on backing vocals.

Angel Romero y Ruiz, September 30, 2022, WORLD MUSIC CENTRAL

REVIEW MUSIC FRAMES

The Nigerian singer, guitarist and composer Adédèjí brings a vibrant Yoruba mix on his album Yoruba Odyssey.

Those who know the music of Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and of course Fela Kuti will enjoy this third album Yoruba Odyssey by Adédèjí (Adetayo). He started in the church choir of Lagos. When he was 15, he learned to play the guitar and studied music at the University of Lagos. He worked with, among others, Tony Allen (drummer of Fela Kuti), Fred Wesley (great funky trombonist of James Brown, Maceo Parker and his JB’s), the Dutch band Fra Fra Sound and recorded his debut album with guitarist Lionel Loueke from Benin.

On Yoruba Odyssey, we hear a well thought-out mix of yoruba, afrobeat, funk, soul, blues, jazz, gospel (beautiful in slow Lagos Blues) and soukous in the closing piece Tales of Agege. Yoruba music is characterized by its exciting and punctuated rhythm, which can mainly be heard on the talking drum. A small drum that can be pitched and played with a small, angled stick. The music on Yoruba Odyssey is uplifting, energetic and dynamic. The expertise is bursting from the loudspeakers. Tight rhythms on percussion and well played (bass) guitar and horn themes are framed with synthesizer parts, solo vocals and polyphonic background vocals. Vocals are in Yoruba and English and lyrics are about the identity of Yoruba culture and the Yoruba people, with a lot of call- and respond-singing. The music of Adédèjì is sincere and honest, great swirling music, performed with joy and inexhaustible energy!

Adédèjì: Yoruba Odyssey (One World Records/Xango)

© Mattie Poels, MUSIC FRAMES, 12.10.2022

TINNITIST
Albums Of The Week: Adédèji | Yoruba Odyssey

Brace yourself for a joyful collision of Afrobeat, jazz & funk from Lagos' hippest band.

“Adédèjì’s album Yoruba Odyssey is a project that goes back to the core of his very roots. The result is a progressive jazz-funk record, influenced with vintage Afrobeat and Yoruba eclectic sounds, that greatly reflects Adedeji’s youth in the metropolitan city of Lagos.

The 10-track set is an educational, entertaining, feel-good, funky album that chronicles his interpretation of the music and artists that have influenced him, from soul to jazz to blues to funk to the traditional Yoruba music he grew up hearing.

Yoruba Odyssey  was recorded during this days in Lagos, Nigeria, at the legendary Afrodisia/Decca Studio, that has housed giants like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and many more.The album presents authentic and personal ideas with tremendous harmonies and tight arrangements. The nine-man band includes some of Nigeria’s best studio musicians, including the grooviest rhythm section, a splendid horn section that adds to the Afrobeat-influenced sound, and beautiful male and female backing vocals that reference Adédèjì’s gospel roots.

The lyrics in his tunes are sung in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English. In the words, Adédèjì is reigniting with the traditional identity of Yoruba culture. Even though the arrangements are of a level you would think would take a year to record, this group sound effortless and full of energetic joy. That’s because they are the hippest band in Lagos! They know their roots and they know the music that has influenced the world since the ’70s. If you love James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Prince, George Benson and, of course, Fela Kuti, you are most likely to love Adédèjì!”

By Darryl Sterdan 29 April 2022

El músico nigeriano Adédèjì presenta 'Yoruba Odyssey', su tercer álbum

29/08/2022 - NoticiasClave.net

El cantante y guitarrista nigeriano Adédèjì acaba de presentar su tercer álbum, 'Yoruba Odyssey'. Diez piezas de jazz-kunk progresivo, con influencias de sonidos yorubas y afrobeat,los cuales reflejan la educación del artista en la megaciudad portuaria de Lagos, antigua capital de Nigeria, donde comenzó a cantar en el coro de una iglesia a la edad de 10 años.

Registrado en el Afrodisia/Decca Studio de Lagos, donde grabaron figuras como Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade y Ebenezer Obey. el disco muestra, en diez canciones, la peronalidad y las influencias del artista, desde la música tradicional yoruba con la que creció, hasta el blues o el funk.

Tocan en la grabación agunos de músicos destacados de Nigeria; la sección rítmica apoya a una gran sección de vientos y a unos coros femeninos y masculinos, que hacen evocan la educación gospel de Adédèjì.

Las letras son canciones en yoruba, inglés y pidgin inglés. En los textos, Adédèjì reaviva la identidad tradicional de la cultura yoruba utilizando acertijos y proverbios, además de hablar de la sociedad. "Cada aspecto de la vida humana representa una forma de estancia u otra. Desde los álbumes anteriores 'Àjò' a través de la dosis doble de 'Afreekanism' hasta este punto de la experiencia de Lagos, deja que tu mente atraviese el cosmos", dice Adédèjì.

Su primer álbum, 'Ajo', feat. Lionel Loueke, obtuvo excelentes críticas internacionales y fue galardonado con el VNO NCW Noord Talent Award, Países Bajos en 2012. Su segundo álbum, 'Afreekanism', le valió los premios LBM al 'Mejor Artista Afro Fusion' en Nigeria en 2017. Adédèjì compartió escenarios con Tony Allen, Lionel Loueke, Gene Jackson, Ayo Bankole, Paco Sery y FraFra Sound, entre otros.

Escúchese a Adédèjì en una pieza en directo del nuevo álbum, 'Oruku'. 

THE GUARDIAN

Adetayo in Yoruba Odyssey LIVE at Alliance Français
By Gregory Austin Nwakunor, 28 March 2021

When Adedeji Adetayo returns today for his second concert at the Alliance Français, Ikoyi, it will be another step on his remarkable journey to stardom. He was also at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, in 2018, for that year’s MUSON festival where he gave a good performance.

Yesterday, he made a triumphant entrance to the house that Mike Adenuga built.

The concerts will kickstart the pre promotional tour of Adetayo’s new album, Yoruba Odyssey. “With this concert, I’m trying to get back the vibe from where it started,” his voice sounds, excitedly. He smiles. A long pause. He says in a distant tone that seems like his voice has fallen, “we are playing all the music for the concert. After the concert, we will finalise arrangements on my forthcoming album’s release.”

Adetayo started singing in a church choir in Lagos at the age of six and by the age of 10, the talented singer became the leader of the choir.

From 13 years old, he was already a highly sought studio singer. He recorded and performed with local Nigerian stars such as, Imoleayo, Pasunma, Obesere, Gbenga Adewusi, Sound Sultan and Sammy Okposo.

At 15, he picked up the guitar and three years later he was also working as a professional. He was playing guitar, singing and writing songs for all his music.

When he was 18 years of age, the Ife-born singer took a music theory examination at MUSON Music School and then went to The Polytechnic of Ibadan to study Music Technology and finally continued to study music at The University of Lagos.

It became a short visit, as he was too busy with his professional career. Later on, he graduated from London College of Music with a licentiate in guitar performance and further specialised at The Prins Claus Music Conservatory in The Netherlands with a bachelor in Jazz Music.

In 2006, Adetayo travelled to Greece to perform at the World Music Day and after his return to Nigeria, he relocated a year after to Greece where he spent time performing almost every night, doubling as a singer and guitarist and featured on various albums.

He took music courses at the London College of music where he has degrees in music performance and bachelor’s degree in jazz music at Prins Claus Conservatory Netherlands, where he won the young talent award and performed his song, Erinlakatabu, with the NNO orchestra arranged by Seun Owoaje.

Since then, the gifted musician has recorded and shared stages with Tony Allen (you will hear Adedeji on Allen’s latest album if released Posthumously), Lionel Loueke, Gene Jackson, Lagbaja, Ayo Bankole, Paco Sery, Keziah Jones, Fred Wesley and Fra Fra Sound and he opened concerts for Manu Dibango and Kenny Garret.