Ajoyo’s self-titled debut album melds old-world Cameroonian beats with traditional jazz themes to create a distinctive and unforgettable sound. All of the album’s tracks were composed by Tunisian-raised Yacine Boulares. He also co-produced this self-titled debut, which is to be released on April 21. Boulares also plays soprano sax on the album as well as the clarinet and percussion. He is joined by Sarah Elizabeth Charles on vocals, New Orleans native Linton Smith on the trumpet, Israeli-born Alon Albagli on guitar, Turkish-German Can Olgun plays the piano, the fender Rhodes guitar and the C3 organ, percussionist Foluso Mimy, Cameroonian bassist Fred Doumbe, Guilhem Flouzat and Thierry Arpino on drums and tenor sax player Jacques Schwarz-Bart is featured on the album’s sixth track, “Soke Ijo.”
The album’s opening track titled, “Jekoro,” begins with jazzy drumming from Flouzat along with bouncy percussion from Boulares and Mimy. These instruments blend harmoniously with Charles’ smooth and seductive vocals, which include lyrics such as, “By the way I see, a place for dreaming…for you and for me. Nobody cares ‘bout tomorrow. No more tears or sorrow…People shouting, people giving.” Cool bass work in the background from Doumbe makes this track a sultry one, but with an important message.
“Benskin,” the album’s fourth track, pools classic African dance beats with true jazz rhythms. Mimy and Boulares’ percussion work, Flouzat’s adept drumming, Albagli’s potent guitar play and Olgun’s sweet tickling of the ivories all mesh together around Charles’ passionate voice as she sings lines like, “I long for the day…Don’t trouble your mind. I question it all, the hatred of man. The judgment to fall, where it all began.” If listeners want to wax poetic about the meaning of life, this track is the perfect one to meditate to while doing so.
The album’s second track, titled “Chocot,” is incredibly danceable as Boulares’ soprano sax furies. Along with Olgun’s C3 organ work, the track’s fast pace makes it one that could be heard on this season’s Dancing with the Stars perhaps in a team dance as the celebrities and professionals happily dance to the song’s jaunty flow.
“Tashikere” is the album’s seventh track, which has Charles’ heavenly yet sprightly voice soaring as it coincides with the multifaceted horns blowing from Boulares and Smith. In addition, Flouzat’s expert drumming augments the track’s rhythm giving it an African vibe. Charles’ repetitious vocals at the track’s beginning set up her elevated vocals as she sings lyrics such as, “There was a king. Lord of the desert and the seas. Ruled over treasures…She gave her soul with as pure as dreams can find. Heir to a glory paradise.” Smith’s trumpet then echoes Charles’ sweet vocals as listeners could imagine life in this tropical oasis.
The sixth track, titled “Soke Ijo,” features tenor saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, who also co-produced the album along with Boulares. Accompanied by Arpino’s reflective drumming, Mimy and Boulares’ percussion play and Smith’s resounding trumpet work, this track is one that listeners could surely envision dancing with their sweetheart to and just letting loose to its infectious dance pace.
In conclusion, Ajoyo’s self-titled debut is filled with African rhythms comingling with compelling jazz strokes thus creating a singularly unique album of tracks that are sure to appeal to eclectic music lovers.
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