Douyé

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Douyé
Performance by Douyé at Vibrato Jazz Grill, February. 27, 2018
Background information
Birth nameDouyé Doubara Bella Youduba
Born (1969-01-04) 4 January 1969 (age 55)
Lagos, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1983–present
LabelsRhombus Records, Betsy Blue Music/Groove Note
Websitedouyemusic.com

Douyé (pronounced Doe-Yay, born 04 January 1969) is a Lagos, Nigerian born jazz vocalist who now lives in Los Angeles, California. She has released five albums; the first two recordings were R&B, but she made the change to jazz for her third album to honor her dying father's request to her when she was a child, which was to sing jazz. The fourth album is jazz interpretation of bossa nova and samba music. Worldwide, Nigerian musicians are well known for Afrobeats music, but Douyé is one of the only Nigerian-born female artist that is recognized for their jazz, bossa nova jazz, and recording Great American Songbook.

Early life[edit]

Douyé was born on January 4, 1969 at Island Maternity Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. She was delivered by Dr. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi, the first Nigerian female Gynecologist.[1] Her father Landy Youduba, originally from the capital city of Bayelsa State in the Southern part of Nigeria, attended military school and became a Military Captain and Political Advisor. He passed away due to a heart condition at the age of 46 in 1980. Her mother, Diepreye (née Isenah) Youduba, originally from Odi, Bayelsa, studied Law at Rivers State University of Science & Technology and after over 20 years practicing law as a Barrister for the Bayelsa State government, retired in 2017.[2]

As a child growing up in Lagos, Douyé was interested in the American music of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.[3] She started writing poems, and eventually songs that she started singing at the age of five.[4] Encouraged by her father, Douyé joined a local church choir.[5][6] Douyé attended Lagos’ Methodist Primary School and graduated from Government College, a secondary school, in 1988.

After a stay in London, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as a vocal major and there she became interested in recording R&B music.[7] She studied Social Work and earned her Bachelor's degree from California State University, Los Angeles in 1999. In 2001, she earned her Master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach in Social Work. In 2023, she earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University.

Douyé is the paternal great-granddaughter of Chief Sam Wasman Youduba from Ayibabiri, Kolokuma, in the Bayelsa State. Douyé is the maternal first cousin, to the former Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Honorable Tonye Emmanuel Isenah.

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

After attending the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Douyé trained and had private lessons for many years with Howlett Smith, a jazz pianist, Composer, educator, and vocal coach until his passing in 2019.[8] Howlett Smith strongly encouraged Douyé to venture into jazz because he believed that she had a unique sound and style for the genre.

At the Musicians Institute, Douyé met songwriter Terry Shaddick, who wrote Olivia Newton-John’s multi-platinum hit, "Physical." Shaddick and Douyé collaborated on songs that became her debut album, Journey, in 2007.[9]

So Much Love was her second R&B album, and featured elements of jazz and reggae.[10] All of the songs were co-written, once again, by Douyé and Shaddick, with fellow Nigerian Dapo Torimiro contributing on a number of cuts. Guitarist/producer Chris Sholar and jazz keyboardist/producer Philippe Saisse also made appearances on the album.[4] The lead track was dedicated to Nigeria’s well-known musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.[11] So Much Love was mixed by Ray Bardani and mastered by Bernie Grundman.[12]

So Much Love was called by the Baltimore Times: "13 of the most soulful songs you will ever hear."[10] A song from that album, "Life Is Good," produced by Torimiro, climbed to No. 9 on the UK soul chart.[citation needed]

Daddy Said So and Quatro[edit]

After the two R&B albums, Douyé released Daddy Said So, a jazz album. Her father had insisted she try the genre in her career, a request he made to her when she was 11 and he was on his death bed. As a result, she began performing in jazz jams at the World Stage in Los Angeles, before recording the album.[13][14]

Daddy Said So features well-established jazz musicians including Ron Carter, Russell Malone,[15] Kenny Barron, Roy McCurdy, John Beasley, John Clayton, and many more.[13]

"Douyé's first jazz record is substantial," reviewed All About Jazz.[15] The album remained on the JazzWeek Airplay chart for 26 weeks.[16]

On 5 April 2019, Douyé released Quatro (Bossa Nova Deluxe) an album of Brazilian and African jazz interpretations of '50s and '60s bossa nova and samba music. The styling expansion was the result of a visit Douyé took to Bahia, Brazil, where she was influenced by the African people and customs of the Brazilian people of Bahia.

Quatro (Bossa Nova Deluxe) has 16 tracks,[17] and features many contributing musicians. Pianist John di Martino (Jon Hendricks, Pat Martino), Brazilian drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, bassist Boris Kozlov (Mingus Big Band), and percussionist Manolo Badrena (Weather Report, Ahmad Jamal) all perform on Jobim’s "How Insensitive." Jed Levy plays flute on "Summer Samba (So Nice)." Additionally, drummer Zack O'Farrill contributed on "Agua De Beber", along with trumpeter David Adewumi, on Horace Silver’s "Nica’s Dream," and Jobim's "One Note Samba." Bassist Phil Small joins the large ensemble on a rendition of "Lover Man".

Brazilian guitarist Angelo Metz contributes four Jobim boss nova-style classics including "Triste," “Corcovado," “Wave," and "Girl From Ipanema." His quartet includes Venezuelan pianist Otmaro Ruiz and Colombian saxophonist/flutist Justo Almario (Mongo Santamaria). Drummer Evan Hyde plays on "Watch What Happens;" pianist Mike Eckroth adds "Once I Loved" that also features a flugelhorn solo by Freddie Hendrix; Brazilian guitarists Marcel Camargo and Romero Lumbarbo pair with Douyé on "Desafinado" and "Dindi," respectively. Brazilian jazz guitarist Romero Lumbardo arranged, produced and performed "Dindi", and soloed on "Blue Bossa".[17][18][19]

Quatro was voted as one of the best New Releases in the JazzTimes 2019 Reader's Poll.[20] The album placed at number 18 on The Roots Music Report's Top Jazz Album Chart for the year 2019.[21]

2023 – Present[edit]

Douyé released her fifth studio album, The Golden Sèkèrè, in July 2023. The album combines the storytelling architecture of American jazz standards with Douyé’s African heritage. George Harris of Jazz Weekly Magazine said "Douye’ does an excellent job bridging the gap between jazz and African sounds on this album of standards, presented through the lens of Africa’s horn." Other critics shared that "It would probably be fair to say that this is one of those albums in which the angels are in the details." C. Michael Bailey of Wild Mercury Rhythm said "The Golden Sèkèrè is not merely a continuation of the high-functioning Daddy Said So. It is the first significant change in the stylistic approach to jazz standards in 30 years." The album features recordings by some of the living jazz greats, including Lionel Loueke, Sean Jones, and Buster Williams. The album also features Nigerian seasoned musicians including, Babá Ken Okulolo, Dapo Torimiro, Najite Agindotan, Zem Audu, Dokun Oke, and Olutosin Aribisola.

Discography[edit]

  • Journey (2008)
  • So Much Love (2014)
  • Daddy Said So (2017)
  • Quatro (Bossa Nova Deluxe) (2019)
  • The Golden Sèkèrè (2023)

Personal life[edit]

Douyé supports several charities and her volunteer work with youth in foster care has inspired several of her song recordings. She is an art collector and has a keen interest in fashion design, she designs some of her own clothes. Douyé currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Yinka Vidal (4 March 2015). How to Prevent the Spread of Ebola: Effective Strategies to Reduce Hospital Acquired Infections. Lara Publications Inc. pp. 7–. ISBN 978-0-9640818-8-8. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016.
  2. ^ Douyé: The Golden Sèkèrè at All About Jazz; by Dave Linn; published July 25, 2023; retrieved February 19, 2024
  3. ^ Worsley, Jim (21 June 2019). "Douye: At Last, A Sophisticated Lady". All About Jazz. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Ann (31 July 2014). "Q & A: Nigerian Singer Douye' Enjoys American Success, Second Time Around". moguldom.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Douye". thejazznu.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  6. ^ Kurniawan, Riandy (31 August 2010). "Douye – Journey". Jazzuality. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  7. ^ Nelson-Strauss, Brenda. "Women of the World: Douyé". blackgrooves.org. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  8. ^ Final Note: Howlett ‘Smitty’ Smith at AFM47; by Paul Gormley; published February 24, 2020; retrieved January 24, 2024
  9. ^ Matthews, Philippe (January 2014). "Music Review: Douye". The Philippe Matthews Show. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  10. ^ a b Demps, Phinesse (14 February 2014). "Indie Soul: Soulful music winter review". Baltimore Times. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Ladybrille Music: Douye Releases 'So Much Love', A Tribute to Fela Kuti". Lady Brille Magazine. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Douye So Much Love". allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  13. ^ a b Gilbert, Andrew (30 August 2017). "Family Ties Shape New Albums by Douyé, and The Sons of the Soul Revivers". KQED. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Watch New Video! Nigerian Vocalist Douyé Releases New Album "Daddy Said So" on July 7th, 2017". The Urban Music Scene. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  15. ^ a b Worsley, Jim (2 March 2018). "Douye': Daddy Said So". All About Jazz. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Douye – Daddy Said So". JazzWeek. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  17. ^ a b Worsley, Jim (11 February 2019). "Douyé: Quatro Bossa Nova Deluxe". All About Jazz. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  18. ^ "DOUYÉ "Quatro – Bossa Nova Deluxe" (Groove Note)". Sonic Soul Reviews. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  19. ^ Harris, George W. (28 February 2019). "Rich Mezzo-Sopranos... Douye: Quatro-Bossa Nova Deluxe, Alicia Olatuja: Intuition-Songs From the Minds of Women". Jazz Weekly. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  20. ^ "2019 Readers' Poll Results". Jazztimes. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  21. ^ "The Roots Music Report's Top Jazz Album Chart for the Year of 2019". Roots Music Report. January 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Douyé&oldid=1208948453"