GWEN & TIANA - African Time
Ubuntu - UBU0022
Gwen Thomas, Tiana Ewane - vocals; Femi Temowo - guitar; Oli Rockberger - piano/keyboards; Michael Olatuj - bass; Marijus Aleksa - drums; Junior Ali-Balogun - percussion;
Soweto Kinch - saxophone, vocals; Keyon Harrold - trumpet; Sona Jobarteh - kora, vocals; Gregoire Maret - Harmonica;
Additional strings, brass and backing vocals.
The name of this pan-African duo, and the album packaging, may remind some UK listeners of another highly successful duo, Amadou and Mariam, but this is a very different product. Singing in English and French, Gwen and Tiana present a slick and lavishly produced package that incorporates elements of mainstream pop and soul in a manner reminiscent of the wave of 1980s African artists like Youssou N’Dour and Salif Keita.
Gwen and Tiana are both possessed of warm, expressive vocal talents; the African roots are unmistakeable in the way the rhythm section switch effortlessly between 3/4 and 12/8 in the title track, and bassist Michael Olatuja deserves a special mention for his powerful, supple playing throughout; Soweto Kinch supplies imaginatively spiky saxophone and a punchy rap verse on Letting Go, and rising trumpet star Keyon Harold, who recently collaborated with Abdullah Ibrahim for the EFG London Jazz Festival, lends his full creamy tone to the chirpy township reggae of “I’ll Make It”. Playing, arranging and production are of the highest standard throughout, - Love Is The Answer has a particularly imaginative groove in the verses flowing effortlessly into unexpected rock guitar stylings in the chorus - but while there is a palpable sense of good natured, uplifting high spirits that is irresistibly engaging, some may find that the very mainstream songwriting and production style rather overwhelm the personalities involved, and the overall impression may be too bland for some tastes.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
Ubuntu - UBU0022
Gwen Thomas, Tiana Ewane - vocals; Femi Temowo - guitar; Oli Rockberger - piano/keyboards; Michael Olatuj - bass; Marijus Aleksa - drums; Junior Ali-Balogun - percussion;
Soweto Kinch - saxophone, vocals; Keyon Harrold - trumpet; Sona Jobarteh - kora, vocals; Gregoire Maret - Harmonica;
Additional strings, brass and backing vocals.
The name of this pan-African duo, and the album packaging, may remind some UK listeners of another highly successful duo, Amadou and Mariam, but this is a very different product. Singing in English and French, Gwen and Tiana present a slick and lavishly produced package that incorporates elements of mainstream pop and soul in a manner reminiscent of the wave of 1980s African artists like Youssou N’Dour and Salif Keita.
Gwen and Tiana are both possessed of warm, expressive vocal talents; the African roots are unmistakeable in the way the rhythm section switch effortlessly between 3/4 and 12/8 in the title track, and bassist Michael Olatuja deserves a special mention for his powerful, supple playing throughout; Soweto Kinch supplies imaginatively spiky saxophone and a punchy rap verse on Letting Go, and rising trumpet star Keyon Harold, who recently collaborated with Abdullah Ibrahim for the EFG London Jazz Festival, lends his full creamy tone to the chirpy township reggae of “I’ll Make It”. Playing, arranging and production are of the highest standard throughout, - Love Is The Answer has a particularly imaginative groove in the verses flowing effortlessly into unexpected rock guitar stylings in the chorus - but while there is a palpable sense of good natured, uplifting high spirits that is irresistibly engaging, some may find that the very mainstream songwriting and production style rather overwhelm the personalities involved, and the overall impression may be too bland for some tastes.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
