The souljazz orchestra – under burning skies
"Souljazz Orchestra: Bangin' Afrobeat straight outta Ottawa".
The band has had three Juno nominations: Instrumental Album of the Year ( Rising Sun, 2011), and World Music Album of the Year ( Solidarity, 2013, and Resistance, 2016.) Their Resistance album release tour of Europe, all October/November 2015, sees them among others in London, Liverpool, Zurich, Paris, Lyon, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Cologne, Vienna, Prague, Athens, Marseille. In 2012, the band completed two US tours that included stops in cities such as Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Chicago.
Other musicians signed to Strut include "Ethio-Jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, Motown guitarist Dennis Coffey and Ghanaian highlife singer Ebo Taylor, to name a few." Īccording to AllMusic, the band's "overtly political 2006 single "Mista President," off second album Freedom No Go Die (Do Right!), really increased their audience, voted to the number nine spot in the 2006 Top 30 of BBC DJ Gilles Peterson's Worldwide programme. For us, it’s a way of life’.The band signed to London-based Strut Records, a UK record label that focuses on dance music and afrobeat. When you add their pulsating live performances, you can understand why their saxophonist Ray Murray says: ‘ Souljazz is more than just a band. The album has its obvious influences but the way in which the band seamlessly blends those influences into an uplifting and thoughtful album will make this a firm favourite amongst tropical music fans. The band was nominated for a Canadian Juno Award for the third time in 2016 and will continue to win plaudits on this showing. Next up is the French Antilles, Creole-influenced ‘Oublier Pour un Jour’, which has a beautiful swing and haunting vocals alongside the killer horn arrangements. ‘Is Yeelyel’ is a funk-fuelled, disco synth, horn blasting ripper of a track which is a stunning rework of an obscure original by Somalian super group Dur-Dur Band. < a href=” > Under Burning Skies by The Souljazz Orchestra< /a> The track highlights the band’s great horn arrangements as well as castigating the powerful, unethical and corrupt. Powering into the opening track with the socially conscious ‘Dog Eat Dog’, features vocals from Mabinuori Idowu and Philippe Lafrenière, and has a beautiful Afro-Disco groove. Packing a punch on the lyrical front too, they bring some timely social commentary with on-point observations that urge for progressive change.Īdding the sounds of ‘80s vintage synthesizers and drum machines to great effect, they bring electro, boogie and Lo-fi disco touches to their previous analogue sound. Think William Onyeabor meets Fela’s Afrika ‘70 with a splash of Creole flavours and you will have a feel for the Canadian‘s brand new journey into the tropical, soul and jazz styles. The Souljazz Orchestra are back with their killer eighth studio album and have added some fearsome vintage synthesizer sounds to their trademark horn arrangements and earthy tropical sounds for maximum dancing impact.