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New York City, July 30th,2015 - Omaha born and N.Y.C. based bassist Essiet Okon Essiet has set the radio add date of August 31 St. 2015 and the commercial release date of September 1st, 2015 for his amazing debut CD release of
Shona on Frances' Space Time Records!
To understand the musical diversity of
Shona one would need to know about Essiet's background. Essiet's parents moved here from
Nigeria, West Africa as his father worked for the US, as well as the Nigerian government and through his youth the family moved often
including Europe, Africa and various cities in the US.
It's the family moves that helped shape Essiet's love for many many parts of the world
as he says "I like to mix styles,I like many cultures". Along with those "many cultures" are the many notables that jazz music's most in demand bassist has performed and recorded with such as Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Azar Lawrence, Cedar Walton, Sam Rivers, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell,Jackie McLean,Kenny Barron,Louis Hayes,Billy Higgins,Art Farmer,Abby Lincoln,Dee Dee Bridgewater,Steve Turre, Bobby Watson,Kenny Garrett,Mulgrew Miller,Jeff "Tain" Watts,Art Blakey and Abdullah Ibrahim to name a few!
It's all these "many's" and more that has helped shape Essiet Okon Essiet and Shona for which Essiet wrote 8 of the 10 tunes and adds superb vocals on track 7, Enuen!
While Essiet has beautifully blended a "mix of jazz with African music" Shona also has elements of reggae as with track 6 Itiat and with track 3 Xangongo with it's "odd meters is more Brazilian" Essiet say's.And then there is Wayne Shorter's Black Nile that swings with a fever pitch!
Additionally amazing is how Essiet,Jeff "Tain" Watts and Manuel Valera shift so effortlessly between all these rhythms and melodies and in the final analysis Shona is one of the most musically interesting and cohesive recordings you'll ever want to hear!
1.Shona (Essiet Okon Essiet)
8:45
2.Ekpokut (Essiet Okon Essiet)
5:30
3.Xangongo (Essiet Okon Essiet)
5:07
4
.Brother Nelson (Essiet Okon Essiet)
6:44
5
.Courez,Courez Gazelle! (Julian Zaviar)
3:05
6.Itiat (Essiet Okon Essiet)
5:42
7.Enuen (Essiet Okon Essiet)
4:27
8.Splash (Essiet Okon Essiet)
7:56
9
.IBM (Essiet Okon Essiet)
7:42
10.Black Nile (Wayne Shorter)
8:18
The Musicans:
Essiet Okon Essiet- [leader,bass, double bass & vocal on 7]
Manuel Valera-[piano & keyboards]
Jeff Tain Watts-[drums]
Lionel Loueke-[guitar] on 2,4,&5
Rob Scheps-[tenor & soprano saxophones]
Baptiste Herbin-[alto & soprano saxophones]
Moise Marie-[vocal & percussion] on 5
J.B. Butler-[guitar] on 2,4,7, & 9
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