Another day another event, or maybe not, as this one is special to Proud to be African Clothing as PTBA actually has a stake an interest in it. I’m talking about the launch of acclaimed jazz guitarist Femi Temowo’s second album Orin Meta (Femitone) . For those that need telling who Femi Temowo is, shame on you, please go and ask somebody!
Ok well since its you and since it’s me your asking
Femi Temowo is a critically acclaimed musician who has worked with late soul singer Amy Winehouse and saxophonist Soweto Kinch to name a few, he’s also a genuine nice guy which is always a good thing! He studied jazz at Middlesex University and joined UK Jazz/Hip-Hop artist Soweto Kinch’s brand new quartet when he graduated which went on to win many awards including a Mercury Music Prize nomination, BBC jazz award for best new group and several Mobo awards.
Femi’s slick and melodic guitar sound and style has seen him cross generations and genres playing with the likes of George Benson, Courtney Pine, The Roots, Omar, Roachford, Amy Winehouse, Jason Rebello, Eska Mtungwazi, Terri Walker, Jean Toussaint, Don Blackman, Michal Urbaniak and so on.
Orin Meta (‘Three Songs’ in Yoruba) is influenced by the song culture of the early Yoruba people combining aspects of jazz and Yoruba music, instruments and song form creating a fusion of lush jazz harmonies and subtle inflections of Yoruba rhythm that evokes a feel of Africa at its most timeless.
To mark the launch the Femi decided to put the album cover design on a T shirt. The multi coloured motif of 3 faces is unique and evokes the principle of 3 as per the Orin Meta theme and complements the Proud to be Africans ethos of the balancing and combining of worlds, the physical and the spiritual, the African and the diaspora.
On the front of the T shirt is the unique image by Femi Temowo and Emma Alexandra Watts and photographed by Adil Sharif on the back is the Proud to be African roundel (known as PTBA2).
In keeping with the spirit of the album and the design the photo shoot had the 3 theme going on as the pictures show, fortunately none of the photos of me trying to pose have survived, as it was considered that a bad tempered unshaven individual scowling at the camera was not the image we were trying to portray! In the photos we have Femi, Ayeesha and Robert, on the album we have the pure joy of African musical tradition mixed with jazz (very much Born in the UK, Made in Africa!) and on 23rd September the album will be launched at Under the Bridge, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS, tickets start from £10.00 general admission to £20.00 from here, T shirts can be bought on the night or in advance at Proud to be African Clothing's website.Looking forward to seeing all the PTBA fraternity there
Chidi
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