Funmi Olawumi May 18, 2013

Nigerian singer Funmi Olawumi, the founder of the Yoruba Women Choir, with her 12-piece big band featuring the four part harmonies of Naija Soul Sisters and a cracking 8-piece band. Together they mix afrobeat, juju, highlife and fuji to create a big sound that is faaji music.

Faaji is a Yoruba word for having a good time and with the rich eloquence of the talking drums driving the music expect explosive rhythms from one the great names of Nigerian music. In her first Manchester club date she plays from her new CD “Funmi Ti De” (JNR) described as “An upbeat album that even sound better heard live” by Robin Denselow of The Guardian and “a pretty good album” by Simon Broughton of The Evening Standard.

Her singing is constantly driven on by the massed percussion, which also includes kit drums and congas, and she's helped, too, by slick, chanting backing vocals from two of the Naija Soul Sisters, funky bass work, and a saxophonist who tries to add in a dash of jazz. The result is a pleasant, good-time set that should sound even better heard live!

Official Website: http://crd.fm/2Kj