Kalaha "Hahaha" (2014) (live)

Hahaha (live) [debut]

release date: Sep. 1, 2014

format: digital (9 x File, FLAC) (RUMPLP016)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: Troels Bech Jessen (sound engineer)

label: Rump Recordings - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Spejderrobot" - 2. "Allahabad" - 3. "Assymetriader" - 4. "K-Sounds" - 5. "Ellas Drager" - 6. "Amar" - 7. "Klap" - 8. "Amnesia" - 9. "Atacama"

Debut album by Danish electronic experimental quartet Kalaha is the live recordings stemming from Red Roof Jam, at the rooftop of DGI Byen, Copenhagen at STRØM [Festival], on Aug. 15, 2013. Kalaha is a colourful act made up by the two, primarily, jazz instrumentalists, drummer Emil De Waal and guitarist Niclas Knudsen [here nicknamed 'Ibrahim Electric') together with the two electronic musicians Rumpistol (aka Jens Berent Cristiansen) and Spejderrobot (aka Michael Elkjær). Together, they explore a combo of jazz and electronica with obvious inspiration from world music and afro beat, and on this debut, they showcase their talent for improvs based on music stemming from each of the members own back catalogue.

Giving the musicians' various starting points and the fact that these compositions are all improvs, Hahaha works surprisingly well - basically showcasing how musical talent will perservere regardless the form, and then of course: both jazz and electronica are genres that include an experimental approach per se.

Kalaha would later release the actual studio album debut Masala in 2016 and the band is definitely worth checking out with Hahaha standing as a promising start that later would be consolidated with a series of studio releases. Mystafa (Mar. 2021) appears to be their most recent album.

[ Purchase the album here ]

Michael Olatuja "Lagos Pepper Soup" (2020)

Lagos Pepper Soup

release date: Jul. 31, 2020
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Michael Olatuja
label: Whirlwind Recordings - nationality: Nigeria

Track highlights: 2. "Lagos Pepper Soup" (feat. Angélique Kidjo) - 4. "Soki" (feat. Dianne Reeves & Lionel Loueke) - 5. "Ma Foya" (feat. Brandee Younger) - 6. "Brighter Day" (feat. Laura Mvula) - 7. "Shadows Fade" (feat. Onaje Jefferson) - 9. "Home True" (feat. Becca Stevens & Robert Mitchell)

2nd album by London-born, Lagos, Nigeria-raised, New York-based electric and acoustic bassist / composer / bandleader Michael Olatuja.
Musically, this is one big blend of genres and styles, although, the overall sensation is one of jazz. It contains instrumental parts that are primarily jazz-founded, it contains vocal jazz and soul pop compositions and it's full of afrobeats (popular African rhythms), but also reveals a strong bond to traditional jazz composers of a you could call a New York tradition.
Aside from well-known studio musicians the album feature a bunch of starring musicians, which include Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Laura Mvula, Onaje Jefferson, Becca Stevens, Lionel Loueke, Robert Mitchell, Grégoire Maret, Brandee Younger, Joe Lovano, and Regina Carter.
Production-wise it's a warm and solid collection of beautiful compositions that also showcase the instrumental virtuosity of Olatuja.
The cover illustration seem a bit out of sync with the content as you might expect more traditional African folk music. I guess, Olatuja only hints at his roots, because it might as well have been entirely displaying Autumn leaves in his hometown of New York.
Anyway, I really enjoy this, it's gooood.