AZOUHOUNI

A true son of Africa -originally from the Ivory Coast, Azouhouni is more than a highly accomplished composer, musician and producer; he is indeed a musical force. Here Azouhouni presents a collection of thoughtfully crafted compositions: a journey through harmonic, vocal and, rhytmic colors in which African genres as diverse as bikutsi, ziglibithy, afrobeat, juju and High-Life meet their Western counterparts of funk, blues and jazz.

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A REVIEW BY CHICO ALVAREZ:

Excellent! "Gotta Go" reveals yet another dimension in the realm of
African Jazz. Multi-talented Azouhouni Adou has successfully tapped into his ancestral well and painted African voicings, rhythmic and harmonic colors and textures onto the traditional North American palette, enriching
America's original art form in the process. By making this type of
statement, he obviously seeks to bring the music full cycle.

Invariably, his compositions and arrangements explore new horizons, but
they also make a different kind of statement. Without having to rely on the old American Songbook, Azouhouni makes his unmistakable bow to the great masters of Jazz. Yet his music is all original. Through a conscientiously applied balance of musical styles, this artist has managed to keep the traditions cultivated by Fela, Mongo Santamaria, Osibisa, Machito, Hugh Masekela and Duke Ellington very much alive.

In the midst of such an insipid musical environment as ours, the time is right for a such a revelation. It is a unique but not new concept. Original music. Original Back-To-The-Roots Jazz. Through the sheer force of his own vision, and with the cooperation and love of his musical crew, Azouhouni's music come forth, uninhibited, almost
natural, with a good measure of discipline and a welcome touch of class.

CHICO ALVAREZ,
Musician and radio show host, NYC 11/3/05

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The Crew...
Azouhouni Adou: vocal (1-8,10,11); piano (1-5,8-12); clarinet (1,7,8,10,11); bass (1,7); keyboards (6,7); background vocal (7,10)
Mamadou Ba: bass (2-6,8-11)
Thierry Arpino: drums (1-6,8-12)
Dawn Drake: percussions (1-5); shekere (1); congas (4,11); clave (10)
Michael Weisberger: tenor saxophone (2-5,8-12)
Todd Horton: trumpet (2-5,8-11)
Curtis Fowlkes: trombone (1-5,8-11)


Guests...
Alain Kodjovi: guitar (1)
Dave Comedie: tenor saxophone (1)
Tomer Levy: trumpet (1)
Jojo Kuo: congas (1,2,5,10)
Aaron Heick: alto saxophone (4); soprano saxophone (5)
Sampson Raji: talking drum (4,5,7)
Zé Maurício: kanjira (6)
Harvey Wirht: rain box, frame drum (6)
David Rajaonary: background vocal (7)
Nepo Soteri: guitar, background vocal (7)
Balla Kouyaté: balafon (7)
Emperor Adichie: cowbells, shekeres (7)
Olaleke Adepoju: percussions (7)
Famoro Dioubaté: balafon (8)
Abou Diarrassouba: congas, cowbells (8)
Jowee Omicil: soprano saxophone (8)
Martino Atangana: background vocals (8,10); left guitar (10)
Oscar Debé: bongos (9)
Koudou Magloire: background vocal (10)
Abdoulaye Diabaté: guitar (10)
Kofo the Wonderman: talking drum (10)
Essiet Essiet: double bass (12)