Joseph - Sunset Jam

The debut solo album from native Zambian Joseph, a moving & modern take on the classic world sound.



Joseph

CD - Sunset Jam

This extraordinary album came to me with no press pack, no contact details, no nothing - just this beautiful album, 'Sunset Jam' by Joseph! Now normally I'd put this to one side and await some sort of email communication asking "...have you received...blah blah...yet?" - then I'd listen and review. But, something drew me in here, told me to at least listen. I did! And I was amazed!! 'Sunset Jam by Joseph (Yikona) is a little bit of African magic.

Now, I've got to be careful here, I don't want to risk upsetting Joseph (or anyone else) by putting my uneducated foot straight into my equally uneducated mouth by citing African origins, ethnic nuances etc, etc. But, I believe that Joseph is from Zambia and assume then that 'Sunset Jam' is essentially of the Zambian persuasion musically. If I'm wrong - I'm sorry. Anyway, 'Sunset Jam' is a sensational work - as chilled as it is evocative, as world as it is ethnic, just about as good as it gets I suppose. Joseph, according to the CD credits, appears to be a guitarist and plays several 'named' guitars and 'pro tools' here to produce his beautiful sounds. And, this is beautiful - believe me, if you find anything at all soothing and/or rewarding when you hear music of African origin then Joseph's musical wares are gonna be right up your dusty old street my friend! Me, I've got a bit of a soft spot for most things African anyway - that's probably why I couldn't put this away and await more info - so 'Sunset Jam' had a bit of a head start I suppose but I'm not at all biased so I'll just crack on.

'Sunset Jam' by Joseph is a delightfully rhythmic work that gets straight into your soul then works its magic right through your body until your feet won't stay still. 'Sunset Jam' is tantalising and tingling - a positive Pandora's Box of slick African sounds that's great for any occasion - I'm certainly looking forward to some hot summer days and nights, this'll work great with the BBQ, balmy breezes and mosquitoes. It might not keep the mossies away but it sure make scratchin' where they've sucked a lot less bothersome!! Superbly performed and produced with empathetic professionalism so that nothing of 'Africa' is lost, subdued or concealed, 'Sunset Jam' is sweetness and light, foot-tappin, hip-swayin' rhythmic excellence - a classy, vibrant and sophisticated thirty-eight minutes of Warm African sensual delight.

I'll post this onto my website and sit and wait - hopefully Joseph or his agent will be in touch and I'll learn more about this excellent musician. In the meantime, I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy Joseph Yikona's 'Sunset Jam' for exactly what it is - a splendid piece of Africa in my own living room - a gem of a work, a little beaut!! - review from toxicpete.co.uk


adriandenning.co.uk
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joseph

sunset jam

Sunset Jam 8 ( 2008 )
Sunset Jam / Soulways Groove / Bwesha Ichalo / Highridge Pt1 / Mayo We / Slow Motion DJ / Put It Away / Yambeji / Highridge Pt2 / Panyama / Sunset Jam Outro

Knowing nothing about Joseph doesn't mean I can't approach his album with an open mind. Indeed, it means that I can listen without any preconceptions. 'Slow Motion DJ' pops up then with delicious African guitars and a toasting kind of MC over the top. It's a mellow kind of gentle groove and very tasty indeed. 'Soulways Groove' has a deep, deep 'loverman' kind of semi-spoken vocal under which guitar sounds sexy and a repeated refrain of 'soulways' groove appears. The kind of music that would be great in a cafe in York overlooking the canal, you know, one of those places with chairs outside and it costs like, £4 for a pint of lager. Expensive but nice. Not something you'd listen to at home, but the music is for a time and a place and when you reach that time and place, it really works. Well, this album is unassuming and nice and all those non-committal yet still positive words. 'Mayo We' for example perfectly captures lovely African grooves and open spaces, sunshine and general loveliness.

'Slow Motion DJ' is lovely then, 'Mayo We' is good - what else do we have? Well, a couple of things are irritating, but I won't mention them, suffice to say the album isn't all lovely African guitar things, some modern London influences seem to permeate the album, although I might be widly off the mark there. 'Bwesha Ichalo' is a superb five minutes, as is 'Highridge Part 1'. What's frustrating isn't the album or the music which is largely exceptional, what's frustrating is no press-pack, no idea at all who this guy is. Can somebody fill me in? He deserves to be heard! Think the kind of music Andy Kershaw would play, Zambian type stuff and give it a go.

PS : I have some info now. Medical consultant by day and world musician by night, Joseph Yikona releases his debut album ‘Sunset Jam’. Using money granted to him by The Arts Council, Joseph has set about producing a spell binding album of world music in a particular style known as Kalindula. On a mission now to raise the awareness and popularity of this style, the 11 tracks here are a reflection of the joyful memories Joseph has of his native Zambia - or more accurately the region of Kabure. A dedicated and able musician, the album has been 3 years in the making. Joseph’s professional career as a consultant has, over the last decade, lead him through Sheffield, Manchester, Cornwall, Nottingham and Cambridge but he has always had the desire to deliver an album.


From The African Echo -
Zambian medical consultant releases album
MEDICAL consultant by day and world musician by night, Joseph Yikona releases his debut album ‘Sunset Jam’. Using money granted to him by The Arts Council, Joseph has set about producing a spell-binding album of world music in a particular style known as Kalindula.

On a mission now to raise the awareness and popularity of this style, the 11 tracks here are a reflection of the joyful memories Joseph has of his native Zambia, or more accurately the region of Kabure.

Sunset Jam showcases Joseph’s gift not only as a guitarist but also as an emotive lyricist and vocalist. The themes running through Sunset Jam are extremely varied. ‘Bwechi Ichalo’ is a percussive and nostaligic look at a time that Joseph would describe as ‘the good old days’ when times seemed simpler and family values were a priority. ‘Mayo We’ hints at the clear generation gap opening up while ‘Put It Away’ marries beautiful guitar melodies to lyrics of a growing global gun culture.

A dedicated and able musician, the album has been 3 years in the making. Joseph’s professional career as a consultant has, over the last decade, lead him through Sheffield, Manchester, Cornwall, Nottingham and Cambridge but he has always had the desire to deliver an album. With an Arts Council backed debut record, Sunset Jam is a must have for not only world music fans but music fans across the board.