Drums of Passion

by Babatunde Olatunji, Michael Olatunji

Overview

Having come to the U.S. from his native Nigeria to study medicine, percussionist Babatunde Olatunji eventually became one of the first African music stars in the States. He also soon counted jazz heavyweights like John Coltrane ("Tunji") and Dizzy Gillespie among his admirers (Gillespie had, a decade earlier, also courted many Cuban music stars via his trailblazing Latin jazz recordings). And, in spite of it being viewed by some as a symbol of African chic, Drums of Passion is still a substantial record thanks to Olatunji's complex and raw drumming. Along with a cadre of backup singers and two other percussionists, Olatunji works through eight traditional drum and chorus cuts originally used to celebrate a variety of things in Nigeria: "Akiwowo" and "Shango" are chants to a train conductor and the God of Thunder, respectively, while "Baba Jinde" is a celebration of the dance of flirtation and "Odun De! Odun De!" serves as a New Year's greeting. The choruses do sound a bit overwrought and even too slick at times (partly due to the fact that most of the singers are not African), but thankfully the drumming is never less than engaging. The many curious world music fans who are likely to check this album out should also be sure to look into even better African drumming by native groups like the Drummers of Burundi and the percussion outfits featured on various field recordings. [The 2002 CD reissue on Columbia/Legacy adds the track "Menu Di Ye Jewe (Who Is This?)", which was recorded at one of the 1959 sessions for the album, but was previously unissued in the US.] ~ Stephen Cook

Product Details

Release Date:	07/30/2002
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Music Distribution
UPC:	0886977078125

Tracks

1. Akiwowo (Ah-Key-Woh-Woh)
2. Oya (Aw-Yah)
3. Odun De! Odun De! (Aw Dun Day! Aw Dun Day!)
4. Jin-Go-Lo-Ba (Jin-Go-Low-Bah)
5. Kiyakiya (Key-Ya-Key-Ya)
6. Baba Jinde (Baba-Gee-Un-Day)
7. Oyin Momo Ado (Oh-Yin-Maw-Maw-Ah-Dough)
8. Shango (Chan-Go)
9. Menu Di Ye Jewe

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Babatunde Olatunji   Primary Artist
Michael Uyttebroek   Primary Artist
Michael Olatunji   Primary Artist
Baba Hawthorne Bey   Drums
Akwasiba Derby   Vocals
Barbara Gordon   Vocals
Louise Young   Vocals
Helena Walker   Vocals
Afuavi Derby   Vocals

Technical Credits

Babatunde Olatunji   Performer,Liner Notes,Composer
John Hammond, Sr.   Producer
Galt MacDermot   Composer
Michael Olatunji   Arranger,Composer,Performer
Michael Uyttebroek   Composer
Akinsola A. Akiwowo   Liner Notes
Teo Macero   Producer
Traditional   Composer