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MP3 Yinka Davies - Black Chiffon
17 MP3 Songs in this album (92:28) !
Related styles: World: African- West, Jazz: Jazz Fusion, Mood: Upbeat
People who are interested in Ella Fitzgerald Fela Kuti Louis Armstrong should consider this download.
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Born on July 16, 1970, shortly after the pangs of the Nigerian civil war were gradually losing their grip on the psyche of the people, Yinka Davies'' potential got a boost while she was growing up in Patey Street, Ebute-Metta in Lagos, south-west Nigeria under the watchful eyes of her paternal grandmother. Reminiscing on those good old days, Yinka notes that "everybody''s child was everybody''s child"; little wonder did her inclination for largely African thematic leanings and concerns in her artistic engagements. As Africans, we are not insular. What touches one man does the other man. This would seem to encapsulate Yinka''s beliefs.
If she appears playful on stage, it''s because her music creates an escape route to being child-like; a singer who has fused different styles of music to create a unique blend of Nigerian music that is globally appealing and accepted is a child at heart! Yinka''s greatest asset is her voice; that unmistakeable stunningly sonorous voice that touches the soul. Her voice covers an unbelievable range of Blues, Highlife, Salsa, Swing, Soft Rock, and Traditional folksongs. Rave reviews and flattering commentary have greeted Yinka Davies'' powerful, soulful and poignant vocal delivery over the years.
Her artistic journey began with her love for Fine Arts when she was 8yrs old. This total entertainment streak is said to be a direct inheritance from her late Aeronautical Engineer father who was in the Nigerian Air Force. The man, himself a music enthusiast, composer and lyricist must have, in one way or another, imbued Yinka with a greater part of his artistic genes. She went on a school''s expedition to the National Arts Theatre for Fine Arts in 1986 and she stayed there! Bisi Fakeye, a renowned Nigerian Sculptor and Abiodun Olaku, also a renowned Painter, were her teachers but only for some months.
She moved to a three dimensional, seeing actors on stage. Bassey Effiong was her first director. Later, she got the inspiration and instruction to dance from Elizabeth Hammond, and more stage directions by Sam Loco Efe, Arnold Udoka, Bayo Oduneye, Chuck Mike, Niji Akanni and Felix Okolo.
Her singing career; which Yinka admits began by accident, has Sam Uquah as the catalyst. For someone without any formal training whatsoever in singing, it was Sam who insisted one auspicious day in 1990 that Yinka must sing. And sing she did! From the French Cultural centre Lagos, Kano, to Goethe Institute, to the American festivals, the British Council etc. Her early stints with Alex O, Esse Agesse, Blackky, won her FAME music award''s best upcoming artiste of the year 1992.
Her work continued with Sir. Shina Peters, Mike Okri, Telemi, Vitus Eze, etc. Her musical odyssey was also to see a positive turning-point when she pitched her tent with Lagbaja, Nigeria''s masked Afro-centric musical path-finder. It was with Lagbaja''s early live shows and audio CD releases that Yinka literally showed the Nigerian music-loving public that she was a female singing sensation in waiting. With her soulful chant which starts off one of Lagbaja''s adorable tracks "Side by Side" Yinka has etched her name and voice in the chamber of the world''s unforgettable voices.
As Yinka''s talents continued to find one platform after another for expression, so did her profile. She was about to reach her artistic apex when she got involved in a vehicle accident. Slowing down her meteoric rise, she returned as though she never left! Goethe Institute, under the direction of Richard Lang, proposed Yinka for a tour of Rome, Tunisia and Milan, for the African Film Festival happening in Milan and she released a CD with a collective of African women titled "Donna Africa" in 1997.
Yinka''s first solo album titled "Emi n''lo" was recorded in 1999 and released in 2002. The hit songs "Bambam Bata"; "Eko ile"; "K''Oluwa ko so" and "Emi a r''owo f''use" enjoyed appreciable playing time on radio but were not well circulated due to financial constraints. In April 2000, a group of young men and woman assembled to give birth to her band "5&6".
Having delivered enviable performances with a degree of professionalism and consistency, Bisi Olaleye of the Daily Sun of Oct 2005 wrote "If talent were to be measured by physique, perhaps Yinka Davies would not be popular today" but having been gifted with the voice of a nightingale and a creative value that has churned out interpretations to compositions, she remains one of the best singers of her generation.
In 2006, she recorded and toured with Fatai Rolling Dollar for the legendary Tony Allen, the great drummer for Fela Kuti in Tony''s new album "Lagos No Shaking". There is no single name for Yinka''s music. She has fused all sorts of ideas together to get an original style to satisfy spiritual gratification of the soul. The music is simply termed FUSION. It''s more of blues because it is infused with lots of emotion and feeling. She is an artiste who makes music easy to listen to while using intricate traditional folklore parables, from the home front, Nigerian environment, culture and mores to pass across salient messages. Her musical icons: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita Baker, Mamman Shiatta, Hadjia Funtua, Salawa Abeni, Late Sir Warrior, Nico Mbaga, Dora Ifudu, Zeal Onyia to mention a few.
Yinka Davies is a rare breed. Her poise and sensuality on stage set her apart from her contemporaries. Her music is surreal and sublime, accommodating audiences spanning different generations, also breaking racial and cultural barriers.
Her message evokes self evaluation, introspection and criticism. Her temper is legendary. Her intensity is electric as her performance continues to thrill. You can''t pin her down. What is against the norm, applies to her...a very unconventional musician
With her eyes set on greater goals and accomplishments, restless and vivacious Yinka continues to reinvent herself musically. This delightful, home-grown yet exciting, engaging and eclectic rare diva, invites you in to her world.
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