Nigeria-born, Los Angeles-based jazz vocalist Douyé has set July 7, 2023 for the release of her fifth album, “The Golden Sèkèrè”, which takes its name from the beaded percussion instrument unique to her homeland.
“The Golden Sèkèrè” is a 14-track album in which Douyé (born Douyé Doubara Bella Youduba) blends her polyrhythmic African heritage with the lyricism of the Western jazz world to create an astonishing collection of sublime beauty and percussive festivity.
The singer breathes new life into the tried-and-true standards of the Great American Songbook, a canon of popular American songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century that have stood the test of time.
Spanning 1:05:32, the album opens with a swinging take on Ray Nobel’s classic bebop standard, “Cherokee”, where the artiste deliberately uses the African talking drum to draw the attention of listeners in the first 34 seconds before blending in her relaxed vocals.
“I wanted to introduce the talking drum right away. This song introduces how we are going straight into Africa, ushering the world into talking drums and sèkèrè,” Douyé says.
Along the way, she celebrates the blend on such tunes as the Kurt Weill gem “Speak Low”, the tempo-changing “Key Largo” and two originals with a full percussion feast from the Duke Ellington songbook: the swinging “It Don’t Mean a Thing” and the dramatic and playful “Azure” fully bringing to light the heraldic blue colour.
“I’ve seen thousands of people on YouTube sing these jazz standards, but so much of it feels inauthentic. Like my father taught me, I needed to connect with the spirit of each of the songs to understand them directly,” Douyé says of the creative innovation that birthed “The Golden Sèkèrè”.
All the standards she renders on the 14-song album are familiar. However, it is impossible that one has ever heard them in this soundscape. With her exquisite dark-roasted voice, Douyé ranges her delivery from horn-packed, percussion-driven big bands to more intimate settings that are spiced by talking drums and sekèrès.
In choosing the songs for the collection, Douyé says, “Every song has its own spirit and these songs spoke to my me. I’m spiritually inclined.”
Douyé was inspired in the making of “The Golden Sèkèrè” by Fela Sowande, a Nigerian musical virtuoso and recognized classical composer who blended Nigerian musical sounds with classical music.
In addition to her Nigerian-steeped support team featuring arrangers Bada Ken Okulolo, Tosin Aribisala, and Zem Audu, guitarist Dokun Oke and percussionist Najite Agindotan also contributed their musical skills to the project.
Douyé also features an impressive guest list, including trumpeter Sean Jones, who appropriately lights a fire on Rodgers and Hart’s “My Funny Valentine”, most recognized by Miles Davis; the majestic Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke on the love song “Fly Me to the Moon” and the romantic ballad “I’m Confessing That I Love You”; and bass legend Buster Williams on “Devil May Care”, largely a duet with Douyé that serves as one of many highlights in the album. It’s lightly spiced by African percussion.
Douye sought sought out Williams because, according to her, she admired his work and attitude. “Plus, he recorded with one of my teachers, Sarah Vaughan,” Douyé says. “When he asked me what I was looking for, I told him that I wanted to blend the Nigerian sounds into the standard sound. He was intrigued and mesmerized by such an innovative idea.”
“The Golden Sèkèrè” project was inspired by Douye’s affection to Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, which appears twice on the album. To bring more of the rich Nigerian culture into the festive version of the song, she cites the influence of Nigerian superstar Fela Kuti. She grew up listening to him as her father played his music every day.
“It was a blessing and a privilege to take a crack at this song with Fela in mind,” she says. “While Cole Porter wrote this tune, Frank Sinatra, another one of my teachers, is the inspiration of this song. He holds the spirit of this song, and I needed his blessing.”
Douyé visited Sinatra’s burial site at the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City near Palm Springs to pay respect. The song kept coming back to her mind.
“On my way driving back to L.A., I was singing it and trying to figure out how I add my own flare to the tune. Then while taking a shower, the beats came to me. I sent them to Bata Ken Okulolo and I expressed my interest in completing this song with a big band. It was not going to be done like Frank, but it would offer an experience to the world to see the song in a different light,” she says.
With a 15-piece band, the song is a plethora of exuberance.
Douyé returns to the song for the album’s quieter, soulful finale. “It’s Palm Wine Music,” she says. “The African groove of percussion is about relaxing, lounging and listening.” It’s the perfect end to showcasing the rich Nigerian culture meeting the beauty of Western culture through a captivating jazz journey.
Douyé made this album to celebrate her heritage in culture and sounds. “The Golden Sèkèrè” is also a loving tribute to Douyé’s father Landy Youduba. Even though she started her career recording R&B music, she never forgot her father insisting that she sing jazz. In her album liner notes, she writes about her father’s blessings when he told her, “Omo mi, you should never forget that you came from a background that is rich in culture. I want to encourage you to create an album that celebrates your talent and heritage. I know God with you every step of the way.”
