OLUMA
New album "COOKING TIME"
The emerging 9-Piece band OLUMA, based in Leipzig, creates an impressive mix of Afrobeat, funk, jazz and Brazilian music.
Their debut Album CookingTime, released in April 2024 on One World Records, has been praised by the international press.
OLUMA was founded in 2021 by bassist Gregor Nicolai, drummer André van der Heide and saxophonist Roman Polatzky. Combining dense, intricate grooves with energetic brass lines that lead into virtuosic improvisations is the group's bread and butter. However, the ability to guide their audience floating into a light, yet rich and lush harmonic dreamworld is ever present. The instrumental compositions can be categorized as global groove.
André and Gregor began their musical journey in their formative teenage years in Berlin's multicultural scene. They share their love for handmade groove music and a passion for danceable beats. Eventually, their pursuit of music brought them to Leipzig, where they would meet Roman and the rest of the band with an international line-up.
The album title Cooking Time did not come about by chance: the music is created in joint songwriting sessions, where beats are tinkered with and ideas are sung. The band not only enjoys sharing the stage, but also the dining table. Cooking Time is theperfect music for this and OLUMA also provides the perfect ingredient. In addition to the vinyl and CD, there will also be an organic spice mix, which also adorns the artwork.
The band enlisted the help of delay nerd and Afrobeat aficionado Umberto Echo for their recordings, using old analog technology to create a nostalgic sound that meets modern production.
OLUMA present a resounding testimony to the universal language of music. Their rousing performances and artistic diversity make them one of the most exciting bands on the contemporary music scene.
OLUMA "COOKING TIME"
"I play yours, you play mine. The music never ends." Tony Allen (There Is No End, 2021)
Following this mantra, the emerging 9-Piece band OLUMA, based in Leipzig, creates an impressive mix ofAfrobeat, funk, jazz and Brazilian music. Their debut Album Cooking Time was launched on April 5,2024 on the Danish label One World Records.
André and Gregor began their musical journey in their formative teenage years in Berlin's multicultural scene. They share their love for handmade groove music and a passion for danceable beats. Eventually, their pursuit of music brought them to Leipzig, where they would meet Roman and the rest of the band with an international line-up. The album title Cooking Time did not come about by chance: the music is created in joint songwriting sessions, where beats are tinkered with and ideas are sung. The band not only enjoy sharing the stage, but also the dining table. Cooking Time is the perfect music for this and OLUMA also provides the perfect ingredient. In addition to the vinyl and CD, there will also be an organic spice mix, which also adorns the artwork. The band enlisted the help of delay nerd and Afrobeat aficionado Umberto Echo for their recordings, who uses old analog technology tocreate a nostalgic sound that meets modern production. With their debut album, OLUMA wants to share the idea that music can contribute to global understanding and connect people. Carolina Vallejo from the One World Records label has provided exactly the right environment for this. OLUMA presents are sounding testimony to the universal language of music. Their rousing performances and artistic diversity make them one of the most exciting bands on the contemporary music scene.
“Cooking Time” by OLUMA ©℗ One World Records 2024
OLUMA Line Up
Gregor Nicolai Bass, comp
André van der Heide Drums, comp
Roman Polatzky Alto sax, comp
Henrik Baumgarten Baritone sax
Luke Strange Trumpet
Gregor Littke Trombone
Franka Bayertz Keys
Mauricio Vivas Guitar
Duvale AKA Afrogame Congas, percussions
REVIEWS "COOKING TIME"
KEYS AND CHORDS 21.04.2024
"The band Oluma was formed in Berlin in 2021 by bassist Gregor Nicolai, drummer André van der Heide and saxophonist Roman Polatzky. Anyone who knows Berlin somewhat will surely realise that the multicultural city is a source of both inspiration and influence. So too for Oluma, which, like a bunch of cooks, throws the different ideas together and turns them into a tasty s(n)oep. Each musician of the nine-member (yes!) band performs his/her virtuosity in harmony with the rest, without lapsing into monotonous solos. Catchy grooves and infectious beats form the basis of the band with influences from jazz rock, brass, Latin and afrobeat. Energy blares from the boxes. A great sound experience with the intention of connecting people among themselves with music.
The album was recently released on the One World Records label and is available from Xango Music on CD and vinyl. The recording and mixing were done in analogue fashion by Umberto Echo to create a nostalgic sound. Which of course comes out best on vinyl. Nice to sit back with a nice drink and be amazed by their inventiveness.
https://www.keysandchords.com/album-review-blog/oluma-cooking-time
MUSIC FRAMES NL
With their debut album Cooking Time, the band Oluma brings a mixing-melting pot of West African grooves with jazz, pop and funk.
In 2021 Oluma was founded in Berlin by bassist Gregor Nicolai, drummer/percussionist André van der Heide and alto saxophonist/flutist Roman Polatsky. All three composed instrumental pieces for their album Cooking Time. The band has been further expanded with musicians on baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, guitar and keyboards.
The compositions dance on the edge of pop, jazz and funk with characteristics of Afro-beat from Nigeria, such as the excellent (unison) played brass section, where the baritone sax and the use of only a few (sometimes only one) chords stand out. Also striking are the razor-sharp and organically played drum/percussion that, together with the bass, forms a tight and grooving basis. This is extremely suitable for the balanced brass, that sometimes curl through the music like a braid (as in Hasty Train, with funky guitar and lovely organ), which makes the theme a true sensation.
The album is full of agile solos on, among others, trumpet, Fender Rhodes piano (with fine distortion) or trombone. These solos often lean towards modal jazz and give the music a worldly character.
With Cooking Time Oluma delivers a delicious menu. Sometimes spicy, varied, or easily digestible, sometimes nicely seasoned, supplemented with a hot sauce… Always exciting and carefully prepared and served with steaming verve. Excellent!
LE MONDE 31.05.2024
The Germans from Oluma are more on the gastronomic side with their debut album, Cooking Time, released at the beginning of April, the cover of which depicts a match made from spices of different colours. On the menu, then, is afrobeat sprinkled harmoniously with funk, jazz and Brazilian influences by these nine musicians from Leipzig.
Formed in 2021 by bassist Gregor Nicolai, drummer André van der Heide and saxophonist Roman Polatzky, the group delivers eleven enveloping, exclusively instrumental tracks, where rigour vies with inventiveness, and for the recording of which they called on Umberto Echo, an afrobeat-loving sound engineer who uses old analogue technologies to bring a touch of nostalgia to the whole. The album's opening track, Felantropique, is a fitting tribute to Fela Kuti.