Michael Olatuja

MICHAEL OLATUJA & LAGOS PEPPER SOUP! – Friday Sept 2 - Doors 7:30 Show 8:30pm 860-434-0886*Joined by Manuel Valera - Piano/Keyboards, Samir Zarif – Saxophone, Camille Thurman  - Voice and EJ Strickland – Drums….  British/Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja has worked with artists like Spike Lee, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Kylie Minogue, Rod Stewart, Lisa Stansfield, Terence Blanchard,  Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling, Lionel Loueke, Jools Holland, Gretchen Parlato among amny many others.Olatuja, 28, began crafting the music that would become ‘Speak’ as long ago as 2003. From there, the music took shape organically as the pieces fell into place, Olatuja calling upon a large cast of musicians to assist him in realizing the self-produced project, including several singers who alternate on lead vocals: Eska Mtungwazi, Andrew Roachford, Terri Walker, Onaje Jefferson and the late neo-soul artist Lynden David Hall.On Speak, Olatuja finds commonalities among the various genres that have shaped his artistry, beginning with the indigenous, traditional sounds that formed his roots during his youth in Nigeria. “I grew up in a church that sang Yoruba Christian songs and played Yoruba style music,” he recalls. “I honed my skills playing in many Yoruba music bands. So when it came to songwriting this influence came out naturally.”At age 11, Olatuja picked up a bass guitar for the first time, and within five years, he was playing professionally, absorbing everything he heard along the way, including soul, jazz, R&B, gospel and more.Influences such as guitarist George Benson and jazz bassists John Patitucci and Richard Bona, who Olatuja calls his “teacher and mentor,” helped shape his musical world. Additional schooling in both the U.K. at Middlesex University and in the U.S. at Manhattan School of Music sharpened Olatuja’s chops and allowed him to mix it up with world-class artists who quickly came to appreciate his gifts. His 2004 move to New York gave him the impetus he needed to put it all together.Musical theater credits include: The Color Purple (feat. Jennifer Hudson), Motown, Lion King, Wicked, Lady Day (feat. Audra McDonald) among others. Come see his incredible band live!MICHAEL OLATUJA & LAGOS PEPPER SOUP! – Friday Sept 2 - Doors 7:30 Show 8:30pm 860-434-0886* www.thesidedoorjazz.com*tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable - no audio or video recording allowed (incl. cell phones) photos only during first set - no flash. Enjoy a pre-show dinner, or discounted overnight stay with tickets, at The Old Lyme Inn.