Song
Eru Aiye by Lekan Babalola
Back story
Lekan Babalola is a Nigerian percussionist and bandleader. His only release available in the U.S. is the excellent Songs of Icon. He mixes jazz and Afro-beat into a potent and exciting sound. Though not well-known outside of Africa, that is changing since his recent involvement with Cassandra Wilson’s band. In the past he has worked with Roy Ayers, Miles Davis, and Fela Kuti.
Why this song
Long-time readers know I am a sucker for good bass solos. Eru Aiye begins with a nearly 3 minute bass solo! It then moves into an open and airy jazz ensemble piece featuring tight horn harmonies, and concludes with a bass solo. It reminds me a bit of both John Coltrane and Miles Davis in the late 1950′s. Which is not to say Lekan’s music is derivative. It is classic and modern all at once. This is among the best world-beat albums I’ve heard in a long time.
More info
Artist and album info
Check it out
I am trying out a different streaming service called Maestro.fm. Since Lala is stopping service as of May 31, I am trying out some alternatives. Please let me know if you have issues listening to the song.
Videos are hard to come by, but I found this one from a 2007 performance in Chicago. The video quality is not great, but you can get a feel for his immense percussion talent.
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