4th March 2020: Announcing the signing of bassist Michael Olatuja – ‘Lagos Pepper Soup’ ( CD / DL / 180 g 2 x LP) ft. Terreon Gully, Aaron Parks, Etienne Stadwijk, Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Regina Carter, Joe Lovano, Laura Mvula, Lionel Loueke, Grégoire Maret, Becca Stevens, Brandee Younger, Robert Mitchell, Onaje Jefferson drops June 12th
We’re delighted to announce the signing of bassist and composer Michael Olatuja to Whirlwind for May 1
release Lagos Pepper Soup, available in CD / DL & 180 gram double LP
“What you hear is a blend of three major cities: it’s a celebration of life, and I wanted to make it sound like a soundtrack for a movie that hasn’t been made yet” – Michael Olatuja
Michael Olatuja’s musical development has taken place across three continents, in the heart of three of the world’s greatest cities. After a childhood in Lagos absorbing the Yoruba culture of his Nigerian family, followed by teenage years performing and studying on the booming London jazz scene, Michael’s talent bloomed when he arrived in New York to study at the Manhattan School of Music. His unique breadth of talent, grounded in the strong musical traditions of his homeland, has earned him first-call status across a range of genres from pop to gospel to Broadway to top-flight jazz, and along the way he’s filled his contacts book with an impressive and eclectic range of talent.
For Lagos Pepper Soup, his second solo release and an integration of all of his diverse musical influences, he picked a core band of Terreon Gully, Aaron Parks and Etienne Stadwijk, and enlisted the talents of Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Regina Carter, Joe Lovano, Laura Mvula, Lionel Loueke, Grégoire Maret, Becca Stevens, Brandee Younger, Robert Mitchell and Onaje Jefferson, alongside top studio arrangers David Metzger, Joseph Joubert and Jason Michael Webb to realise his vision of what he calls Cinematic Afrobeat. His own virtuoso melodic bass playing shines throughout.
“I wanted Lagos Pepper Soup to feature my own playing, as well as songwriting and production – all my influences are here, all my favourite musicians, and I feel there’s an element of divine favour in how amazingly it’s turned out!” – Michael Olatuja