An exploration of the revolutionary sounds of funky afrobeat.

9 MP3 Songs
WORLD: African, URBAN/R&B: Funk



Details:
"Freedom No Go Die" is the Souljazz Orchestra's latest endeavour. Most of the songs are rooted in Nigerian afrobeat, but there are elements of soukous, salsa, funk and free jazz thrown in as well. The album features fiery performances by Juno-award winning Rwandan/Burundian artist Mighty Popo, as well as by two of Ottawa's top soul singers, Alanna Stuart and Marielle Rivard.

Since 2002, the Ottawa-based band has been keeping the classic sounds of raw, gritty groove alive and well in Canada. Their style combines jazz, funk, African and Latin music with messages touching on politics and spirituality.

The blaring horns, retro keyboards and polyrhythmic beats show the influence of Fela Kuti, James Brown, Tito Puente and Herbie Hancock, but the sound remains nonetheless refreshingly original. Their stylistic variety is in part due to the diverse musical backgrounds of the bandâs individual members : jazz, funk, blues, reggae, classical, and traditional Cuban, Brazilian and West African percussion.

The Souljazz Orchestra has had the chance to collaborate with notable artists such as Beautiful Nubia and Mighty Popo, and has opened up for Etta James, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, John Lee Hooker Jr., The Sadies, and more. The band has appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Blues Festival, and the Ottawa Tulip Festival.