Look Out For New CD by Saxophonist Sly5thAve | “Akuma” (Coming Feb. 2014)
New CD From Prince Saxophonist Sly5thAve presents “Akuma”
Coming off a remarkable national tour with Prince, New York-based jazz musician and composer Sly5thAve will release his debut solo album Akuma in February on Truth Revolution Records, a collection of 12 tracks celebrating the synthesis of Nigerian legacy with modern American culture.
Inspired by an expedition to his African roots, Sly5thAve channels the mysticism and jubilation of Igbo tribe culture, infiltrating it with the sound of contemporary jazz in this highly anticipated first album. Akuma was produced by Brad Williams and composed by Sly5thAve, who funded the project entirely out of pocket with money he earned waiting tables. The record features guest performances by Brooklyn artists Denitia Odigie, Zack Brock, Phil Lassiter, and Cory Henry from Snarky Puppy.
Recorded in May 2012 and completed in 2013, Akuma is a project two-years in the making. It will be accompanied by the release of a short documentary film chronicling the musician’s journey from New York to Nigeria, and the insight he gained exploring familial tradition. Sly5thAve will additionally put out two singles leading up to the album’s release, “Deme” featuring Odigie, as well as the title track.
Akuma will be distributed physically in select stores, and released across major digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon.
On top of touring, Sly5thAve has spent much of 2013 collaborating across the independent music scene in New York and Los Angeles. He’s recorded tracks with artists denitia & sene, Liv Warfield, Ro James, Jesse, Fischer, and the Club Casa Chamber Orchestra. He was also part of an exclusive performance of music from Grand Theft Auto V, sponsored by the New York Film Society at St. Paul’s Cathedral and featuring Om’mas Keith, Alchemist, Rob Lewis, Tangerine Dream, and Rockstar Games.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Sly5thAve (aka Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II) began his musical musings on the saxophone at the age of 11. Finding inspiration in church, he studied music at the University of North Texas, earning a feature role on the Grammy-nominated track, “Lab 2009.” He later moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue music, where he currently resides.
Sly5thAve presents “Akuma” (Truth Revolution Records TRR-014)
Street Date February 11, 2014
Sly5thAve (Sax) Ross Pederson (Drums), Daniel Foose (Bass), Hajime Yoshida (Electric Guitar), Keita Ogawa (Percussion), Jay Jennings (Trumpet),
Brad Williams (Acoustic Guitar…tracks 7, 10), Cory Henry (Piano and Wurlitzer tracks 1,2,3 10), Phil Lassiter (Trumpet track 7),
John Leadbetter (Flute track 5, 7),
Zach Brock (Violin track 6,10), Denitia Odigie (Voice track 9)
