Michael Olatuja

Artist Description

“Groove is something you either have or you don’t, and if groove were water, you’d have to go to Michael Olatuja’s concerts with scuba gear.”
-Jazz Inside NY

"What a curious cocktail of African music, jazz, soul, and gospel Michael Olatuja has cooked up on Speak.... Put it all together and it shows Olatuja to be an excellent composing talent with a great future."
-All Music Guide

"Speak unquestionably speaks the potent language of music on a soulful level....highly recommended listening."
-Soultracks.com

"Speak is a stunning debut from a talented artist."
-Soulmatters Mag

"...a mix of hip hop, neo-soul, and sultry r&B/jazz that soothes the soul."
-Jamati Online

"This cat, who's come seemingly out of nowhere, made a record that reveals a talent far beyond merely being able to pluck a four-stringed instrument....It's worth keeping tabs on Mr. Olatuja to see what he will do for an encore."
-Somethingelsereviews.com

"Speak sounds fantastic...I'm only sad I wasn't playing on it."
-Jools Holland

"Michael's virtuosity and musical diversity make him one of the most unique bass players around today"
-Peter Cincotti


British/Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja debuts his vision as producer, composer, arranger and performer on Speak, just released on Backdrop/ObliqSound.

The album features musical influences and guests from each spot Olatuja has hit around the globe, including his childhood in London and Lagos, Nigeria, and professional years  in London and New York.  Speak incorporates such hallmarks  of traditional African music as the talking drum and hand drums (conga and djembe), call-and-response vocals and the Yoruba language, while working comfortably with musical vocabularies more familiar to Western ears: neo-soul balladry, modern jazz, deep groove, R&B, and gospel. Led by Olatuja on bass, the album features several singers who alternate on lead vocals: Eska Mtungwazi, Andrew Roachford, Terri Walker, Onaje Jefferson, TY, Michael's wife Alicia Olatuja and the late neo-soul artist Lynden David Hall.

At Joe’s Pub, Michael Olatuja will be joined onstage by a full band, including David Rosenthal on guitar, Oli Rockberger on keyboards, Ulysses Owens on drums, and Alicia Olatuja, Charles Anthony Bryant and Lauren Dawson vocals.

Olatuja has toured and recorded with stars such as Lisa Stansfield, Terence Blanchard, Chaka Khan, Patti Austin, Stevie Wonder and many others.  
 
Michael Olatuja's deep spirituality and unshaken belief in the power of the positive lies at the heart of every track on Speak. It makes perfect sense that he titled the album what he did: Speak speaks volumes, and it speaks to everyone. 

Photo credit: Esben Melbye