Born: June 21, 1972 Primary Instrument: Bass
You've heard the buzz about his latest CD Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience, predicted to be one of “The Best Independent Jazz Album's of 2006,” from music critics around the world. You've seen the amazing album cover. You've heard his music on major and independent radio stations around the world. You've seen him on the morning television show Sacramento & Co. broadcast on ABC (KXTV Affiliate). And, his music was featured on the hit television show Girlfriends, which aired on the CW Network in the Bay Area, but who is the man behind the music? Meet producer/bassist/multi-instrumentalist/label owner and one fourth of the dynamic quartet “Gemini Soul,” Andre Marcel Ajamu Akinyele, pronounced Ah-jah-moo + Ah-kin-yay-lay.
Ajamu Akinyele's latest double CD is titled Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience released early 2006 on the Pearl Jazz Recording Label. As MARCEL, he released five CDs ranging from Funk to World, but as Ajamu Akinyele, embarked on his first cyber jazz release titled Supernova in 2005.
“Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience” has been labeled “musically stunning and captivating” by his peers. Jazz Improv Magazine calls it...Creative & Entrancing; The Sacramento Cultural Hub Magazine calls it...Outstanding; JazzReview.com says...This proves to be the perfect formula for a winning endeavor; while San Diego City Beat says...Ajamu gets down for the funk of it.
Ajamu Akinyele's style of music has been compared to the smooth sounds of Sade, the laidback grooves of bassist MeShell Ndegeocello, the funkiness of pop icon Prince, and the fusion of Miles Davis. Ajamu Akinyele states “My overall goal is to introduce my music to all generations and to all ethnic backgrounds in support of jazz of all genres, while trying to unite us as a people under one nation through the groove of cyber jazz.”
Hear what critics are saying: www.ajamu.net/press.html
Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience the double CD from Ajamu Akinyele is available at: CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, iTunes and other major online retailers.
Ajamu Akinyele is currently touring and making music with his band Gemini Soul.
Supernova
Pearl Jazz Recording Label
2005
Tracks: Supernova; Evolution; 2704 Shane Drive; Orbiting The Universe; Gemini Soul; Starwalkin'; Love; Pearl; Supernova (Extended).
Personnel: Ajamu Akinyele - All Instruments. Jon O'Bergh - piano on "Starwalkin'.".
Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience
Pearl Jazz Recording Label
2006
Tracks: Disc 1 Pandora's Boxx; Intro:Black; Black Magic; Crystal Ball; Spellbound; Rio Dulce; You Always Remind Me of December; Barbarella; Sahara Nites; Disc 2 Passage; The Look of Love; The Sweetest Taboo; Gemini Blues; In Love With You; Winter; Witchcraft; Fire Dance; If Trees Could Talk.
Personnel: Ajamu Akinyele - All Instruments & Vocals. Jon O'Bergh - piano on "Rio Dulce," "Barbarella," "Sahara Nites," "Passage," "The Look of Love," "The Sweetest Taboo," "Gemini Blues," "In Love With You," & "Fire Dance."
As A Side Musician
A Cyber Jazz Holiday
Gemini Soul
Pearl Jazz Recording Label
2005
Tracks: Winter; In Love With You; The Holidays Are Here; Evergreen; Gemini Soul Is Coming To Town; Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; The Holiday Song.
Personnel: Ajamu Akinyele - All Instruments & Vocals. Jon O'Bergh - piano on "Gemini Soul Is Coming To Town," "Silent Night," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," & "The Holiday Song."
Liquid Soul
Gemini Soul
Pearl Jazz Recording Label
2007
Tracks: Gypsy; Liquid Soul; Fever; LiLi; In The Mood; Yesterday Princess; Spiritually In Tune; Kiss of Life; The Chocolate Factory; Evolution Part 2; Hang On To Your Love; Lake Merritt; Take Five (Bonus Track).
Personnel: Ajamu Akinyele - vocals; bass; guitar; atmospherics; keyboards; effects; piano & drum programming. Jon O'Bergh - keyboards, atmosperics; piano & Fender rhodes.
Live : The Liquid Soul Tour
Gemini Soul
Pearl Jazz Recording Label
2007
Tracks: Gypsy; Fever; LiLi; Pandora's Boxx "Remix"; Hang On To Your Love; Goodbye; In The Mood; Winter; Take Five; Ancestor's Dub; Supernova "Remix"; Lake Merritt.
Personnel: Ajamu Akinyele - bass & drum programming. Jon O'Bergh - piano; keyboards & programming. Andrew Foster - percussion.
The Nefertiti Xperience
Gemini Soul
Pearl Jazz Recording Label
2008
Tracks: Sun Goddess; River Nile; Radical; Nefertiti's Theme; Nefertiti Xperience; Chance To Grow; The Eye of Horus; Black Venus; Serpent's Tongue; Vertigo; Oliver Jones; Compared To What?; Sphinx.
Personnel: Ajamu Akinyele - bass; guitar; keyboards; percussion & programming. Jon O'Bergh - piano; keyboards; Fender rhodes & programming. Andrew Foster - percussion. Alex Marks - drums.
Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact discography@allaboutjazz.com. Thank you.
