Lagos

For Lagos Pepper Soup, Michael Olatuja's second solo release, Michael picked a core band of Terreon Gully, Aaron Parks and Etienne Stadwijk, and then enlisted the talents of Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Regina Carter, Joe Lovano, Laura Mvula, Lionel Loueke, Gregoire Maret, Becca Stevens, Brandee Younger, Robert Mitchell, Onaje Jefferson, and top studio arrangers David Metzger, Joseph Joubert and Jason Michael Webb to realise his vision of what he calls Cinematic Afrobeat. Michael has integrated all of his diverse musical influences, incorporating his guests' talents while allowing his own personality to clearly shape the overall direction. His own virtuoso melodic bass playing shines throughout - "I wanted Lagos Pepper Soup to feature my own playing, as well as songwriting and production - all my influences are here, all my favourite musicians, and I feel there's an element of divine favour in how amazingly it's turned out."