Sound Time

orn in 1936 into eastern Nigeria's Ibo tribe, Stephen Osadebe came from a long line of singers and dancers. After his musical gift developed during high school, he worked his way through the circuit of nightclubs and dancehalls in Nigeria's then-capital city of Lagos under the mentoring of trumpeter Zeal Onyia. Osadebe went on to become one of the shining stars of West African highlife music, an infectiously upbeat sound that incorporates elements of everything from calypso and samba to jazz and soul. This delightful record, the inaugural release from the IndigeDisc label, compiles seven jubilant songs from Osadebe's 40-year career, exposing Western ears to a little-known talent who deserves broader recognition. Vintage songs like "Oyo Lima" and "Gwam Okwu" are groove-oriented epics, with throbbing basslines and syncopated beats driving the songs as clear guitar tones shimmer and horns provide rhythmic punctuation. It's not all that different from other highlife music, but Osadebe's infectious spirit makes Sound Time a standout in the genre. ~ Bret Love|