Singer/songwriter Adedeji effortlessly combines jazz with world music on new album
(Published: March 10, 2013)

Ironic that it takes an artist with roots in West Africa, the Netherlands, and Greece to remind listeners about the punchy rhythms of American funk.

On "Ebami wa," singer/songwriter Adedeji delivers such an authentic flashback of a Curtis Mayfield jam that it feels like the early ‘70s again, with soaring horns and a blistering guitar groove fueling the time machine. Being able to juggle a handful of musical styles is no easy task yet Adedeji makes it seem effortless on his latest album, Ajo. For the uninitiated, "Ebami wa" doesn't even hint at his versatility; Adedeji's vision extends beyond vintage urban sounds and into jazz, Afro-Cuban, world, and folk influences.

Born in West Africa, Adedeji draws from the music he absorbed in his homeland as well as the sounds he became exposed to in his travels to the Netherlands and Greece. In other words, the record is brimming with spectacular eclecticism, and Adedeji basks in the glow of his multi-layered artistry. One of the most impressive displays of Adedeji's spellbinding talent is featured on "Odun Ayabo," wherein he skillfully slips from African to English lyrics with bold self-confidence and youthful exuberance. On "Jojolo," Adedeji unites jazz and funk with the surgical precision of a seasoned veteran.

Adedeji is among the few young artists who are truly pushing the boundaries of pop in contemporary music, a fact that he acknowledges with a trace of sadness. "Things have changed now," Adedeji said. "When I was younger, there was more originality and people pushing their limits; everybody sounded different but now they all sound Auto-Tuned apart from a few ones."

More Information: http://adedejiadetayo.com

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Wavelength