Oyaya! (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Angélique Kidjo (vocals); Jacob Desvarieux (vocals, guitar); Henri Salvador (vocals); Hervér Bault (guitar, cavaquinho); Mamadou Diabate (kora); Anne Sophie Courderot, Florent Carriere (strings); Steve Berlin, Luis-Eric Gonzalez (baritone saxophone); Luis Eric González (trumpet); Alberto Salas (piano, keyboards); Abou Sylla (balafon); Vincent Artaud (upright bass); Rene Camacho (bass guitar); Julien Chirol (claves); Andy Narrell (steel pan); Ramon Stagnaro (guitar, tres); Dominic Kanza (guitar); Justo Almario (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Francisco Torres (trombone); Walter Rodriguez (drums, percussion); Michito Sánchez (percussion); James Felix, Tata Vega (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: David McNair; Renaud Letang.

Recording information: Alberto's Shack In The Back, Southgate, CA; AYE Studio, France; Ferber Studio, Paris, France; Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA; The Sonora Recorder, LA, CA.

Photographer: Kwaku Alston.

Something of a stylistic chameleon, Angelique Kidjo has moved through radio-friendly pop, soul-diva stylings, rock, folk, and the vocal and rhythmic currents of her native Benin, Africa. OYAYA!, another step in Kidjo's musical odyssey, finds the artist exploring the sounds of the Caribbean, underscoring the link between African tradition and Latin music, as it evolved in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and elsewhere. Strains of bolero, merengue, salsa, and ska all figure into the mix here, and are expertly blended with the aid of Kidjo's versatile voice and her superb backing musicians.

Kidjo impresses as much with the variety contained on OYAYA! as she does with the accuracy and aplomb with which she approaches each style. The opener, "Seyin Djro," is a passionate, high-octane salsa number with polyrhythms that will coax even the most sedentary listeners to the dance floor. "Mutoto Kwanza" mines a high-energy ska groove, while the down-tempo, calypso-tinged "N'Yin Wan Nou We" showcases Kidjo's earthy, seductive ballad singing. More cohesive and focused than many of the vocalist's previous releases, OYAYA! is packed with beautiful, exuberant music, making for Kidjo's most mature and musically compelling recording. minimize