REWIEWS ADÉDÈJÌ

YORUBA ODYSSEY TOP 10 on World Music Charts Europe
YORUBA ODYSSEY TOP 10 on Transglobal World Music Chart


DISTRIBUTION

Xango Music (Benelux), Karonte Music (Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Japan) Trapeze Music (UK), Indigo DE (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, USA), 

PJ Music (Czeck Republic),The Orchard (Digital), Bandcamp (Digital & Physical)

NEWS


SONGLINES Music Magazine

Review Adédèjì "Yoruba Odyssey" One World Records 2022

TOP OF THE WORLD ★★★★
In recent years Nigerian music has become synonymous with the globalised Afrobeats of the likes of Burna Boy and Wizkid. That single additional ‘s’ brings with it a world of sonic difference from the original Afrobeat of Fela Kuti, Tony Allen and company, and it’s a joy to come across a record that unashamedly celebrates the glory days of Nigerian funk in the 1970s and 80s with such untrammelled exuberance. Lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player Adédèji Adetayo started singing in a church choir in Lagos before he was ten and recorded his debut album as a bandleader in 2012. Yoruba Odyssey is his third full-length release and the follow-up to 2017’s Afreekanism.

The album was recorded in just three days in Lagos at the legendary Afrodisia/Decca studio, where Kuti, King Sunny Adé and others once worked, and features Adédèji backed by an eight-piece brass section, half a dozen percussionists and call-and-response backing vocalists on a fizzing set of progressive jazz-funk simmering with classic Afrobeat and Yoruba tropes in tight but expansive arrangements with lyrics in Yoruba, English and Pidgin full of traditional riddles and proverbs. Away from such robust Fela-like workouts on ‘Oruku’ and ‘Shyphiliezation’, variety is provided by excursions into Afro-soul (the lilting ‘Lagos Blues’), gospel and township synth pop (‘Tales of Agege’). An unexpected delight.

Nigel Williamson, SONGLINES Music Magazine, 16 December 2022


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

YORUBA ODYSSEY #8 on TOP 10, World Music Charts Europe December 2022

DJs: The Panel Albert Hosp Austria Ö1 / ÖRF Albert Reguant Spain Ona de Sants Montjuic 94,6 Arne Berg Norway nrk P2 Artemy Troitsky Russia ROCK FM Balázs Weyer Hungary MR3-Bartok Bintou Simporé France Radio Nova Bojan Djordjevic Serbia Radio Belgrade 3 Davy Sims Ireland Slice + SERC Network Didier Mélon Belgium RTBF-La Première DJ Ritu United Kingdom BBC Drago Vovk Slovenia Radio SRAKA Emir Fulurija  Croatia Radio Student Esmeralda Moberg Sweden Sveriges Radio – P2 Francis Gay Germany WDR - COSMO Giorgos Markakis Greece ERT Gita Lancere Latvia Radio Latvijas Herve Riesen France Radio France fip Ilmars Slapins Latvia NABA Jakub Borysiak Poland Polskie Radio Jay Rutledge Germany Bayerischer Rundfunk Jean-Marc Baehler Switzerland Radio Suisse C3 Johann Kneihs Austria ORF Johannes Theurer Germany RBB / Radio Eins Laurence Aloir France Radio France International Lopa Kothari Great Britain BBC Radio 3 Maciej Szajkowski Poland Polski Radio 4 Manos Tzanakakis Greece Sto Kokkino 105.5 FM Marcello Lorrai Italy Radio Popolare Milano Marica Cristian Romania Radio Romania Cultural Max Reinhardt United Kingdom Radio SOHO Milan Tesar Czech Republic Radio Proglas Nuno Sardinha Portugal RDP Africa Óscar Losada Castro Spain Radio Galega Paco Valiente Spain UPV Radio Petr Doruzka Czech Republic VLTAVA FM Ruud Siebons Netherlands Radio 9 Tijana Stanković Serbia Radio Belgrade 2 Tönu Timm Estonia Vikerradio Tuuli Saksala Finland YLE Radio1 Vladimir Potancok Slovakia Rádio_FM Wojciech Ossowski Poland Polskie Radio 3 Zjakki Willems Belgium VRT-Radio 1, Brussels

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  

YORUBA ODYSSEY #5 on TOP 10, World Music Charts Europe November 2022

DJs: The Panel Albert Hosp Austria Ö1 / ÖRF Albert Reguant Spain Ona de Sants Montjuic 94,6 Arne Berg Norway nrk P2 Artemy Troitsky Russia ROCK FM Balázs Weyer Hungary MR3-Bartok Bintou Simporé France Radio Nova Bojan Djordjevic Serbia Radio Belgrade 3 Davy Sims Ireland Slice + SERC Network Didier Mélon Belgium RTBF-La Première DJ Ritu United Kingdom BBC Drago Vovk Slovenia Radio SRAKA Emir Fulurija  Croatia Radio Student Esmeralda Moberg Sweden Sveriges Radio – P2 Francis Gay Germany WDR - COSMO Giorgos Markakis Greece ERT Gita Lancere Latvia Radio Latvijas Herve Riesen France Radio France fip Ilmars Slapins Latvia NABA Jakub Borysiak Poland Polskie Radio Jay Rutledge Germany Bayerischer Rundfunk Jean-Marc Baehler Switzerland Radio Suisse C3 Johann Kneihs Austria ORF Johannes Theurer Germany RBB / Radio Eins Laurence Aloir France Radio France International Lopa Kothari Great Britain BBC Radio 3 Maciej Szajkowski Poland Polski Radio 4 Manos Tzanakakis Greece Sto Kokkino 105.5 FM Marcello Lorrai Italy Radio Popolare Milano Marica Cristian Romania Radio Romania Cultural Max Reinhardt United Kingdom Radio SOHO Milan Tesar Czech Republic Radio Proglas Nuno Sardinha Portugal RDP Africa Óscar Losada Castro Spain Radio Galega Paco Valiente Spain UPV Radio Petr Doruzka Czech Republic VLTAVA FM Ruud Siebons Netherlands Radio 9 Tijana Stanković Serbia Radio Belgrade 2 Tönu Timm Estonia Vikerradio Tuuli Saksala Finland YLE Radio1 Vladimir Potancok Slovakia Rádio_FM Wojciech Ossowski Poland Polskie Radio 3 Zjakki Willems Belgium VRT-Radio 1, Brussels

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 PoelsMUSIC FRAMES, 12.10.2022

 

ADÉDÈJÌ YORUBA ODYSSEY

Transglobal World Music Chart 
TWMC for OCTOBER 2022 Congrats and thanks for the music!! 

1. Al-Qasar · Who Are We? · Glitterbeat [-]2. Maya Youssef · Finding Home · Seven Gates [1]3. Antonis Antoniou · Throisma · Ajabu! [-]4. Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf · Queen of Sheba · Mister Ibé [29]5. Oumou Sangaré · Timbuktu · World Circuit / BMG [4]6. Solju · Uvjamuohta / Powder Snow · Bafe's Factory [-]7. Lass · Bumayé · Chapter Two / Wagram Music [7]8. Cimarrón · La Recia · Cimarrón Music [3]9. BKO · Djine Bora · Les Disques Bongo Joe [5]10. Minyeshu · Netsa · ARC Music [9]11. Vieux Farka Touré · Les Racines · World Circuit / BMG [-]12. Wesli · Tradisyon · Cumbancha [-]13. Adédèjì · Yoruba Odyssey · One World Records [-]14. Yanna Momina · Afar Ways · Glitterbeat [25]15. Ali Doğan Gönültaş · Kiğı / Gexî / Kegui · Ali Doğan Gönültaş [11]16. Madalitso Band · Musakayike · Les Disques Bongo Joe [8]17. Purbayan Chatterjee & Rakesh Chaurasia · Saath saath · Purbayan Chatterjee / Believe [-]18. Leyla McCalla · Breaking the Thermometer · Anti- [6]19. Fanfara Station · Boussadia · Garrincha Gogo [14]20. Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita · Echo · Bendigedig [18]21. Päivi Hirvonen · Kallio · Nordic Notes [-]22. Arifa · Danubian Voyage · O-Tone Music [-]23. VRï · Islais a Genir · Bendigedig [-]24. Master Musicians of Jajouka, Led by Bachir Attar · Dancing Under the Moon · Glitterbeat [17]25. Radicanto · Alle Radici del Canto · Visage Music [-]26. Oriental Brothers International Band · Oku Ngwo Di Ochi · Palenque [10]27. Cardo-Roxo · Bravio · Projecto Cardo [30]28. Justyna Jablonska & Jyotsna Srikanth · Songs for Cello & Carnatic Violin · Stitch [26]29. Ernesto Djédjé · Roi Du Ziglibithy · Analog Africa [-]30. Itzhak Ventura · Aligned · Riverboat / World Music Network [20]31. Simon Shaheen · The Music Of Mohamed Abdel Wahab · Zehra [-]32. Lamia Yared & Ensemble Oraciones · Ottoman Splendours / Lumières Ottomanes · Analekta [12]33. Iyana · Iyana · Delicious Tunes [-]34. Nasim Khushnawaz · Songs From the Pearl of Khorasan · Worlds Within Worlds [21]35. Noori & His Dorpa Band · Beja Power!: Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan’s Red Sea Coast · Ostinato [27]36. V.A. · Wantok Musik Vol. 3 · Wantok Musik [13]37. Shiran · Fadaytak · Batov [35]38. Elif Sanchez · Mi Voz · Pasion Turca [22]39. Denez · Ur Mor a Zaeloù · Arsenal Productions [-]40. Bonga · Kintal da Banda · Lusafrica [36]

 

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'. 

SUN NEWS ONLINE

3rd June 2021in Lifeline

Day Adedeji showcased jazz talent

It was a moment of fun and relaxation when Adedeji Adetayo presented his new album, “Yoruba Odyssey”, at a live concert. The two-day event, which took place at Alliance Français, Lagos, was a first act in the pre-promotional tour of the album.

“Yoruba Odyssey” is a project that goes back to the core of his very roots. It is a progressive jazz-funk record, influenced with vintage Afrobeat and Yoruba eclectic sounds, that greatly reflects Adedeji’s days growing up in the metropolitan city of Lagos.

It is a 10-track, educating, entertaining, feel-good funky album that chronicles his interpretation of the music and artistes that influenced him. From soul to jazz, to blues, to funk, you can hear his love for a variety of music geniuses.

“My kind of music is a fusion of afro, jazz and soul. It is what I call pan-eclectic progressive African music. In that sense, I like to blend a lot of our culture, mostly borrowing more from the Yoruba cultural music. It is a fusion of all the people that have been before me, Fela, Ayinla, Arinosola, and all the music that I grew up with. My knowledge of jazz and funk that I have been exposed to, and a lot of music from around the world.”

The line-up on the recording are all wonderful musicians, giving their best approach to Adedeji’s complex compositions. The lyrics are sung in Yoruba, English and Pidgin.

“Yoruba  Odyssey” was recorded in three days in Lagos in one of his visits to 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. The grooviest rhythm section and a splendid horn section add to the afrobeat-influenced sound, together with the beautiful male and female backing vocals that clearly have references to Adedeji’s gospel upbringing.

Adedeji 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 and recorded and performed with local Nigerian stars like Imoleayo, Pasuma, Obesere, Gbenga Adewusi, Sound Sultan, and Sammy Okposo, to mention a few.

At 15, he picked up the guitar and, three years later, he was also working as a professional guitarist. When he was 18, he took a music theory exam at MUSON College, Lagos, 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, 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.

Since then, the gifted musician has recorded and shared the stage with Tony Allen, Lionel Loueke, Gene Jackson, Lagbaja, Ayo Bankole, Paco Sery, Keziah Jones, Fred Wesley and Fra Fra Sound.

Describing Nigeria’s music industry, he said, “I am really proud with what the guys are achieving with the minimum support in terms of art development in the industry, because it takes a lot of love and guts to do what they do. We have a Nigerian Grammy Award winner now and that’s a good thing as well. But the good thing is that there are a lot of unique sounds. I would also want more exposure to different Nigerian music, not just popular music that is mostly played on the radio, because there are a lot of talented acts there that are hidden, or don’t have the kind of opportunity that the rest of the guys have. That is what I would really love to see happen, because in the past it used to be that we had different juju musicians but everybody sounded different. We had a lot of highlife musicians but everybody sounded completely different. Osita Osadebe is different from Oliver De Coque. Chimezie is different from everybody. The same with Sunny, he is different from Obe. Even fuji artistes sounded a lot different from each other.

“So, it will be nice to bring that kind of thing back, where we actually develop our traditional music, and take it to the international standard. This is something which Fela did and a few others. However, it is going great. There is a lot of followership with Nigerian arts.”

He advised upcoming artistes to believe in themselves, be honest and keep doing what they do.

The producer of the music, founder of One World Records, Carolina Vallejo, described Adedeji’s music as amazing: “When you are somebody who works with music like I do, you hear a lot all the time. For me to like music, I’m spoilt because I grew up with it. I went to concert with James Brown, Angelique Kidjo. I’m spoilt with music with great artistes. So, Ayodeji, to me, has come to be, in my pinion, one of the best guitarists of the world at this moment. I believe he is as well a singer. Incredible, he is down-to-earth, and a master of what he is doing. He is like an expert. I haven’t had one time he plays a wrong tune or sings a wrong note. Every time, he makes a new surprise, and I discover something new that he can do. And I look forward to that moment and I get it every time. That’s good music, that’s music for life”.




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.