Angélique Kidjo

Country of origin:

Benin. Currently resides in Paris, France

Type of music generally:

World music, pop/rock, dance

Status:

Most recent release, Djin Djin (2007)

See also:

Angélique Kidjo Homepage

Covers/own material:

Own and co-written, occasional cover

General comments:

Angélique Kidjo is an amazing singer-songwriter from Benin, a tiny country in West Africa. She sings in English, French, and her native languages of Yoruba and Fon. Her music—well, there's that powerful voice that's comfortable in different languages, stylistic influences from traditional African music to rock, pop, r&b and hip-hop. She uses both African and western instruments. Most of her songs are upbeat, danceable, very rhythmic. But her slower songs and ballads are equally excellent. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Glad to see someone else out there liking Angélique Kidjo. Her talents blew me away when I first heard her a couple of years ago. For those who like "World Music" she is really awesome. The energy she brings to her songs is very invigorating and infectious, and the sound is different enough to make it very interesting stuff. (joc@netaxs.com)

Comments about live performance:

I saw Angelique in the fall of 1998 here at Oberlin, which was the first stop on her U.S. tour for Oremi. It was one of the best concerts I've been to EVER. Hands down. She had so much energy; she had the entire crowd on their feet dancing before the end of the first song, and kept them that way the whole time. She played mostly songs from Oremi and Fifa, but also some older songs and a ballad she said had been made famous by Miriam Makeba—so beautiful. Also her dancing and the back-up singers, dressed in African costume, and colorful prints draping the stage added to the incredible performance. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Angélique Kidjo was awesome. She's much shorter than I thought she'd be, but has a really great smile. The show features a lot of songs from her latest album Fifa (meaning "Peace"), and the new stuff sounds great. Many of the songs feature English choruses—which is a departure for her, but they still sound great. She toured with two backup singers, a drummer, a percussionist, a keyboardist, guitarist, bass, and a pretty wild dancer. For the first 40 minutes or so, it was all new material, but then she covered all my favorites including "Batonga", and an awesome version of "Adouma" which had everyone dancing—not just the people on the dance floor. She then came out and did an encore consisting of two songs, a ballad and "Agolo". A great show that was a lot of fun. Her voice is so loud, powerful and clear—though I do wish she worked on her dynamics a little more. Even her ballads are loud, powerful and clear—which can get a little tiresome, but the danceable rhythms more than make up for it. (4/96, jjhanson@att.net)

Recommended first album:

Fifa

Recordings:

• Pretty
• Parakou (available by import)
• Logozo
• Aye
• Fifa
• Oremi
• Keep On Moving: The Best of Angélique Kidjo
• Black Ivory Soul
• Oyaya!
• Djin Djin (2007)

Logozo

Release info:

1991—Island Records France—422-510 352-4

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals

Guest artists:

Jean Hebrail—bass
Joe Galdo—drums, percussions
Lester Mendez—keyboards
Joao Mota—guitar
Gary King—guitar
Yves N'Djock—guitar
Moussa Sissokho—percussion
Djanuno D'Abo—percussion
Myriam Betty—background vocals
N'Dedy Dibango—background vocals
Branford Marsalis—saxophone
Manu Dibango-saxophone
Ray Lema—background vocals

Produced by:

Joe Galdo

Comments:

Strong debut. It has the wonderfully energetic "Batonga" and the incredibly beautiful "Malaika," which Angelique notes is a traditional Tanzanian chant, sung in Swahili, popularized by Miriam Makeba. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Aye

Release info:

1994—Island Records—162-539 934-4

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals

Guest artists:

Paul Peterson—guitar
Dave Z.—guitar, drum programming
Carol Steele—percussion
Lester Mendez—Hammond, Wurlitzer, piano, synthesizers, drum programming
Jean Hebrail—keyboards, bass guitar, programming, arrangements, drum programming
Jevetta Steele, Jearlyn Steele, JD Steele, Fred Steele (the Steeles); Ingrid Matsidisi Webster, Damel Carayol, Julie Imani Payne, Enyonam Gbesemete (Body and Soul); Lama Al-Mugheiry, Claudia Fontaine—backing vocals
Andy Gangadeen—drums
David Fall—drums
Luis Jardim—percussion
Jacques Largent—percussion
Chris Davis—saxophones, brass arrangements
John Thirkell—trumpet
Neil Sidwell—trombone
Julian Crampton—double bass
Glenn Nightingale—guitars
Will Mowat—keyboards, arranging, programming

Produced by:

David Z., Will Mowat

Comments:

Another great album by Angelique. Bright and upbeat with a good variety of styles, tempos. Another must for fans. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Fifa

Release info:

1996—Island Records

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Very highly recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals

Guest artists:

Lester Mendez—keyboards
David Fall—drums
Jacob Desvarieux—guitars
Glenn Nightingale—guitars
Snake Davis—saxophones, brass arrangement
John Thirkell—trumpet
Dennis Rollins—trombone
Carlos Santana—guitar
Luis Conte—percussions
Sanjay Divecha—acoustic guitar
Jabu Khanyile Bayete, Wings Segale, Busi Mhlongo, Khanyo Maphumulo, Khululiwe Sithole, Ray Lema, Debbie Davis, Beckie Bell, Joniece Jamison, Yvonne Jones, Mike Robinson—backing vocals
Beninese musicians—cotonou, ouidah, abomey, portonovo, kouaba, korontiere, kouande, natitingou, badjoude, bassila, manigri, azizakwe

Produced by:

Jean Hebrail

Comments:

Her most accomplished album, I think. Angelique went back to Benin because she wanted to capture the music of her childhood, and a lot of native musicians played on the album. It's a rich tapestry crossing cultures, languages, musical styles. And it's just filled with awesome grooves. I can't adequately describe it; I can't say how much I love it; I can't recommend it enough. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Oremi

Release info:

1998—Island Records—314-524 521-2

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals

Guest artists:

Bashiri Johnson—percussion
Peter Mokran—guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, programming
DeMonte Possey—Wurlitzer, rhodes
George Nash, Jr.—guitar
Vincent N'Guini—guitar
Jean Hebrail—keyboards, programming
Ronny Drayton—guitar
Bakithi Kumalo—bass
David Sancious—Wurlitzer
Kenny Kirkland—Wurlitzer, rhodes
Skoota Warner—drums
Ira Siegal—acoustic guitar
Tom Barney—acoustic bass
Paul Griffen—B-3 organ
Branford Marsalis—soprano saxophone
Ahmir Thompson—drums
T.M. Stevens—bass
Wah Wah Watson—guitar
Kelly Price—lead vocal
David Mirandon—percussion
Sibongile Makgate, Wendy Meleku, Mandisa Dlamga, Puleng Wings Segale, Victor Mzumato, Tommy Farragher—backing vocals
Cassandra Wilson—scat vocals

Comments:

"Oremi" translates as "friend". This album has the most Western influences on it: from r&b and hip-hop influences, some jazz even, to a Jimi Hendrix cover to appearances by Cassandra Wilson and Kelly Price. For the most part it works very well, but my favorite songs on here are the ones that are sung all or mostly not in English such as "Babalao" "Loloye" and "Orubaba". (JoAnn Whetsell)

A friend turned me on toÊher. With this album someone decided she should be more mainstream R-n-Bish, to get her "known", before they drop her from her label. NO african influences!!! Only 1 song listenable, in my opinion and my friend's, "Voodoo Chile". Slight return—no guitar, a favorite from her youth, kinda neat. (shudder) What the suits do to talent!!!! (zzkwhite@ktwu.wuacc.edu)

Keep On Moving: The Best of Angélique Kidjo

Release info:

2001—Sony Records—85758

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals, all instruments (1)

Guest artists:

Thierry Vaton—Rhodes, piano (1)
Jean Hebrail—programming (1)
Wah-Wah Watson—guitars (8)
Djao Mota—guitar (7)
Djanuno Dabo—percussion(7)
Kelly Price—vocals (8)
Carlos Santana (11)
Christian Lachenal—programming (14)
Ray Lema—vocals (18)

Produced by:

Jean Hebrail, Peter "PM" Mokran, Will Mowat, Joe Galdo, David Z.

Comments:

Keep on Moving is Angélique's first compilation. I haven't actually heard it, but I'm intrigued by the inclusion of "Summertime," a new recording. The songs chosen represent her 5 previous albums well, though I might have chosen some different ones. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Black Ivory Soul

Release info:

2002—Columbia—CK 85799

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—lead and background vocals, music arrangements

Guest artists:

Dave Matthews—guest vocals on "Iwoya"
Brenda White-King, Cindy Mizelle, Dennis Collins, Curtis King—additional background vocals on "Black Ivory Soul" and "Afirika"
Joao Mota, Dominic Kanza—electric guitar
Romero Lubambo—nylon string guitar
Vinicius Cantuária—acoustic guitar on "Olofoofo"
Rubens De La Corte—acoustic guitar on "Bahia"
Bernie Worrell—organ and fender rhodes
Mahamadou Diabate—kora
Michel Alibo—electric bass
Ira Coleman—acoustic bass
Gilmar Iglesias Gomes—Brazilian percussion
Abdou Mboup, Aiyb Dieng, Cheick M'baye—African percussion
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson—drums
Karl Berger—material strings arrangement and conducting
Juliann Klopotic, Cathy Yang—violin
Kathy Sinsabaugh—viola
Tara Chambers—cello
Jean Hebrail—music arrangements

Comments:

It sounds very good. I'm not sure if it's something I'd listen to a lot, but it was good, bouncy stuff that it would be doing a disservice to label as "Afro-Pop". The single features Dave Matthews on vocals, and sounds like it could have "hit" potential, if top-40 radio sees fit to pay attention to something that's not prepackaged teenie dreck for a change. (meth@smoe.org)

Oyaya!

Release info:

2004—Columbia Records—CK 89053

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals

Guest artists:

Alberto Salas—piano, keyboards, rhythm arrangements
Rene Camacho—basses
Ramon Stagnaro—tres, guitars
Dominic Kanza—African guitars
Walter Rodriguez—drums, percussion
Michito Sanchez—percussion
Tata Vega, James Felix—backing vocals
Francisco Torres—trombones and horn arrangements
Justo Almario—tenor and alto sax
Luis-Eric Gonzalez—trumpet
Steve Berlin—baritone sax
Abou Sylla—balafon
Mamadou Diabete—kora
Andy Narrell—steel pans on "Oulala"
Jacob Desvarieux—guitar and vocals on "Dje Dje L'Aye"
Kayemb, Sanza—strings arrangement
Julien Chirol—clave
Hervér Bault—guitar, cavalquinho
Diego Imbert, Vincent Artaud—upright bass
Joan Rouzaud, Anne Sophie Courderot, Vanessa Ugarte, Frederic Maindive, Florent Carriere—strings
Thomas Ostrowiecki—gourd, daf, triangle, hand bells

Produced by:

Steve Berlin & Alberto Salas

Comments:

Oyaya! is a high-spirited album. It is impossible to listen to it without moving, even if I'm only dancing in my chair. The third in Angélique's series of albums exploring the influence of African music in the diaspora, Oyaya! takes on Afro-Latin/Caribbean music. Even more than the previous 2 albums (Oremi which explored American music and Black Ivory Soul which explored Brazilian music), Oyaya! blends the music rather than using it as an influence. I'm not sure which countries or styles of Caribbean music; her website mentions salsa, calypso, meringue, and ska. But it doesn't really matter. What matters is that it makes me smile, it makes me dance. Angélique's voice is as beautiful and sensual as ever, and so is the music. If you like dance-y Latin music, give this a try; if not, try one of Angélique's other albums instead. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Djin Djin

Release info:

2007—Razor & Tie—7930182967-2

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Angélique Kidjo—vocals

Guest artists:

Poogie Bell—drums
Habib Faye—bass
Crespin Kpitiki—percussion
Benoit Aviboue—percussion
Joao Mota—African guitar
Romero Lubambo—acoustic guitar
Dominic Kanza—guitar (1, 11, 12)
Lionel Loueke—guitar (3, 5, 6)
Larry Campbell—steel guitar (9, 11, 12)
Stuart Bogie, Jordan McLean, Aaron Johnson, Colin Stetson (Antibalas)—horns (3, 8)
Gregor Kitzis, Gabriel Schaff, Ron Lawrence, Matt Goeke—strings
Thandi Bhengu, Nompumelelo Skakane, Tsholofetso Mokubung—South African backing vocals
Amadou Bagayoko—guitar solo (5)
Keziah Jones—guitar solo (4, 10)
Onree Gill—keyboard (2)
Branford Marsalis—saxophone solo (2)
Alicia Keys—vocals (2)
Joss Stone—vocals (3)
Peter Gabriel—vocals (4)
Carlos Santana—guitar (6)
Josh Groban—vocals (6)
Ziggy Marley—vocals (7)

Produced by:

Tony Visconti

Comments:

Djin Djin is similar to Angélique's 1998 Oremi album, with lots of guest artists and exploration of the connections between music of Africa and the Western hemisphere. It's as upbeat, positive, and fun, but I think it's a stronger album. You can really hear her growth as an artist and the influence of the last years she's spent exploring the African roots of American, Brazilian, and Caribbean music. She covers the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" with Joss Stone, goes reggae with Ziggy Marley, and even does a vocal version of Ravel's "Bolero" which won me over despite much initial skepticism. The songs with just Angélique and her band are as strong as those with guests. And the quieter songs are as good as the fast ones. It's a testimony to her strength as an artist that amid the guests and the various styles she remains firmly in command of it all. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Further info:

Write to: kidjo@mail.imaginet.fr.

Angélique Kidjo has contributed songs to the soundtracks for Ma Saison Preferee (My Favorite Season), Street Fighter, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, and the Lion King II. "Batango" appears on the compilations Putomayo Presents The Best of World Music, African Heartbeat and Holding Up Half the Sky: Voices of African Women. "Bitchifi" appears on the One World compilation. "Never Know" is featured on the Lilith Fair: Volume 2 album, and she also appears on Junior Vasquez Vol. 1 Live, Women of the World, Reggae on the River: Part 1, Africa Fete, Peaceful Planet, Amazing Grace ("Summertime") and World Christmas ("Zan Vevede" "O Holy Night").

Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.

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