BabatundeOlatunjiDrumsofPassion1960FLAC

24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 874 MB | Full Artwork
Label/Cat#: Columbia Legacy # CS 66011 | Country/Year: US 2002 | 3% Recovery Info
Genre: Folk, World | Style: African, Drum

Review by Stephen Cook
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.] allmusicguide

I “grew up” with this recording and remember it fondly from my college days, but was completely unprepared for the way it sounds in multi-channel stereo. This is the real thing! — the drummers and singers are in a seamless circle around the listener. Bass response is staggering — we never heard it like this on LP. It’s a remarkable achievement for all concerned.


Tracklist:

1 Akiwowo (Ah-Key-Woh-Woh) 4:42
2 Oya (Aw-Yah) 5:35
3 Odun De! Odun De! (Aw Dun Day! Aw Dun Day!) 4:59
4 Jin-Go-Lo-Ba (Jin-Go-Low-Bah) 3:25
5 Kiyakiya (Key-Ya-Key-Ya) 4:13
6 Baba Jinde (Baba-Gee-Un-Day) 5:32
7 Oyin Momo Ado (Oh-Yin-Maw-Maw-Ah-Dough) 5:27
8 Shango (Chan-go) 7:02
Bonus Track
9 Manu Di Ye Jewe 3:22

Notes:

Originally released in 1960, Drums Of Passion is considered by many to be the first world music album recorded in the U.S. Drums Of Passion would infatuate and influence audiences and musicians in the West for years to come. Harmonic, modal and rhythmic styles converge with the rich traditions of Africa to produce a masterpiece that remains a foundation for popular music today