The Nigerian singer and guitarist’s third album ’Yoruba Odyssey’, is a project that goes back to the very core of Adédèjì’s roots. The result is a progressive Jazz-Funk record, influenced with vintage Afro Beat and Yoruba eclectic sounds, that greatly reflects Adédèjì’s up-bringing in the metropolitan city of Lagos. A ten track educating, entertaining, feel good, funky album, that chronicles his interpretation of the music and artists that influenced him. From Soul, to Jazz, to Blues, to Funk, to the traditional Yoruba music he grew up with.
’Yoruba Odyssey’ was recorded during 3 days in Lagos, Nigeria, at the legendary Afrodisia/Decca Studio, that has housed giants like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey to name a few. The album presents authentic and personal ideas with tremendous harmonies and tight arrangements. The line up includes some of Nigeria’s most skilled musicians; the grooviest rhythm section and a splendid horn section, adds to the Afro Beat-influenced sound together with powerful female and male backing vocals, that clearly reference Adédèjì’s Gospel upbringing. The lyrics are song in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English. In the texts, Adédèjì reignites the traditional identity of Yoruba Culture using riddles and proverbs, as well as talking about the society. “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, and by the age of 10, he became the leader of the choir. His first album, 'Ajo', feat. Lionel Loueke, got great international reviews and he was awarded with the VNO NCW Noord Talent Award, The Netherlands in 2012. His second album, 'Afreekanism', won him the LBM Awards for ‘Best Afro Fusion Artist’ in Nigeria in 2017. Adédèjì shared stages with Tony Allen, Lionel Loueke, Gene Jackson, Ayo Bankole, Paco Sery, FraFra Sound and many more.
