“Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music� Ronald Reagan
“Never follow where the path may lead, rather follow where there is no path and leave a trail...� Martin Luther King Jr.
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“The future is open; we decide what's in it...� Wolfgang sonnenburg.
SWEET SOUND 4
In the very beginning was the word (sound). The timpani crash of thunder The gentle side drum beat of autumn rain While violin and cello echo the gusting wind The Nightingale sweet sound of the piccolo echoes in the dusk Early morning and the French horn mimics the pheasants call And the well played flute could be the bird on the wall The warm air whizzing by, and the leaves shaking, the clattering of the trees Nature's sweet sounds But this can't be because man can never truly compose natures music. The Birth of a new SOUND‌ Let it be a sweet sound in your ears‌
The Sound of
Soul, Mind, Body & Spirit blended with tasteful
Rhythm
Inspired by nature's own music, that offers unreserved reverence, we bring forth a new sound, blended “ Jazz Fusion “ with African elements to give a distinct rhythmic flow. A bunch of experienced musician knocking on the door of creativity, to open a new realm of un-paralleled sound, breaking boundaries and re-defining conventions. Truly African, truly Nigerian based in Lagos Nigeria, we have performed in several concerts/shows. We also cater to dance music and its modern trends in the entire music Industry, especially corporate organizations, social events such as weddings etc. “The World will always stand and applaud the man that knows where he is going in life” We have come thus far by the grace of God, its been indeed a long road to freedom. Each of us started playing music at a tender age with the aim of passing it to the next generation. Jazz was, is and always will be the music strictly for the matured minds. Vision is to be No 1 authentic “African Sound“ …”Raise a song, strike the tumbrel, the sweet sound lyre with the Harp, blow the trumpet”…
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Afolabi ehinde K OKE
GROUP LEADER AND SAXOPHONIST
The Team leader, & humble
Trail-blazer
A
business man per excellence, popularly known as Alfredo, is one of the founders of the fastest growing technology companies in Africa. He has a knack for business and good music. Growing up in a talented musical family meant different forms of music always surrounded Afolabi. His parents exposed him to a wealth of music as a child, all of which influenced his development.
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His first foray into learning an instrument himself was inspired by a book he read titled “ The Dream Seed “ author, Mike Murdock, with his favorite quote “ the proof of your desire in life is pursuit” he started to learn to play the saxophone at the age of 14 a decision which he never looked back from. He has performed with several artistes in–country and internationally and also played at the international Jazz festival in Lagos. Afolabi gets his inspiration from great minds like, Grover Washington Jr, Kirk Whalum, John Coltrane, Gerald Albright, and his spiritual mentor Pastor Ituah Ighodalo. In his professional capacity he has a lot to his credit, he led the team that Certified the Central Bank of Nigeria on ISO 27001 (information security), the regulator has in turn mandated all banks to comply to the same standard, a member of the British Standard Institute and Business Continuity Institute in the United kingdom. 8
Afolabi functions as chief visionary and inspiration officer for the group. He provides strategic direction, articulates corporate vision, mission and strategy as well as values that define the culture of the team. In May 2013, he was sought after by the Irish Government (Enterprise Ireland) to help facilitate a financial service seminar to inspire business men in Ireland to see investment opportunities in Nigeria, His exceptional facilitation style was attested to when the Government led several business men to Nigeria on a major trade mission to the country in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, he is one of the nations most sought after speakers. He is happily married to his best friend Opeyemi, a renowned and celebrated singer, and lawyer turned beauty Consultant, CEO of Studio 54; they have 2 kids who are also musicians in their right. What a wonderful world…
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Simply 10
Gifted, outstanding Ilori Olufemi Alaba is a multifaceted intrumentalist and musician with a very deep sense of musical sounds, culminating into sundry outstanding expressions of great music. He was granted permission into the world of music by his parents at a very tender age of 6, being the smallest in the choir as far back as 1988. He has now metamorphosed into a composer, songwriter, live and session singer (classical and contemporary), voice trainer, music teacher, drummer and general percussionist. He is actually the official singer and percussionist of the band. Before and after his first degree, he studied music in quite a number of schools; Peter King college of music, The Muson, etc. He has performed at several platforms like Calabar Jazz Festival, Lagos International Jazz Festival, The Experience, The African Praise Experience and so on, and has worked with several artists like; Kunle Ayo (Jazz guitarist based in SA), Sammie Okposo, Wole Oni, Timi Dakolo, Mike Aremu, Lara George, Eric Arubayi, Onos etc.
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Alaba
ILORI
SINGER/PERCUSSIONIST
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Michael
GBADEBO BASS PLAYER
Bassist attitude, aptitude with
and appeal
Michael Gbadebo is a sought-after bass player, songwriter, arranger and producer. He has 15years of experience as a bassist and has performed at a variety of festivals such as the Muson jazz festival, Lagos international jazz festival, Copacabana Music on the lagoon, Awesome praise music festival, Naijazz festival. Michael has played with artist like OBA, Kunle Ayo jazz guitarists (SA), Balinga (Ghana), Barry Hayes of muzology records (UK), Chinaza of nagel heyer records (Germany), AYETORO afro jazz group, Blue3 pop group (Uganda). Over the years Michael has also developed his art by singing and playing the bass with the instrumentality of the name AWAYINO, and has quiet a number of songs in his repertoire.
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Ini
DMINSTREL
PIANIST, MUSIC PRODUCER, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER
Pianist
Prolific
Sensation
Piano
Ini Dminstrel is a pianist, music producer, composer and arranger. He started playing the piano at age 8 under the tutelage of Pastor Kunle Ajayi of RCCG. He started playing professionally at the age of 16 and started touring with numerous bands across the country. He came of age musically, when he started working with Late Elder Steve Rhodes in the Steve Rhodes Orchestra and eventually rose to become the band leader, during which he travelled to the city of Capetown in South Africa and performed with Nigerian guitar legend Kunle Ayo and other amazing jazz musicians in the city such as Frank & Tony Paco, Tucan Tucan, etc. In the year 2010 and 2011, he went for a tour of London with Nene Souldiva and gigged at several Jazz clubs and open mics in Camden town, Soho and the west end of London. Ini Dminstrel recently recorded a piano ballad version of the popular Yoruba folk song ''Ijoba Orun'' where he featured veteran Nigerian jazz vocalist Gloria Rhodes Nash and Nigeria's foremost trumpeter & gospel artist, Nathaniel Bassey. He also recorded a piano cover of ''African Queen'' by ace Nigerian artist Tuface Idibia. Recently, He started experimenting with Nigerian ethnic music especially ''Ibibio and Efik music'' (Music from the South South Niger Delta region of Nigeria) taking a keen interest in the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic textures ingrained In the art form and also as it relates with the structure, general delivery and performance of the music. His love for music has also taken him into music design for software applications, video games, corporate brands and also musical content provision etc. He also composes music for radio/television and has several filmscores to His credit. He is married to Nene who is one of Nigeria's foremost soul, jazz and gospel artists. They have several kids and live in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Ben
BAMIDELE GUITARIST
Guitar
explicit! Ben Bamidele, a native of Oyo state started playing the guitar at the age of 16. However because of his obvious enthusiasm for music and determination to be one of the best guitarist in the country, he dedicated himself to studying the theory and practical of music (with special emphasis on the guitar). As s result of efforts, Ben emerged as a highly sought-after musician providing his musical expertise to a host of artists which includes Tee Mac, Biodun Batick, Steve Rods Orchestra, and a host of others. Ben also worked with Onyeka Onwenu on a project led by Victor Oladokun of the famous television program 'Turning Point'. Ben performed along side Olufumi and Mike Aremu at the 2004 Afro Carol concert. Ben also shared the stage with the likes of Peter King, Tee Mac, Yinka Davies, Freshly Ground from south Africa, and Courtney Pine from U.K at the very first Nigeria international jazz festival in lagos Nigeria. He has two albums to his credit. Ben traces his inspiration to such jazz greats as Wess Montgomery, George Benson, Mark Whitfield and Earl Clugh.
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Olusegun
ATOYEBI SAXOPHONIST
A Unique
Saxophonist
My name is Emmanuel Olusegun Atoyebi. I was born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria. I began to display the art of music at a tender age. I have worked with several churches, clubs, and I have performed at popular music festivals with both local and international musicians like Lagbaja, Gbenga Adenuga, Onyeka Onwenu, Toun Shoetan, Olufunmi, Cobhams Asuquo, Timi Dakolo, Ayo Bankole Jnr, Nova Africa and Ade Bantu, just to mention a few. I have also shared the same stage with Four Play, The Invisible, Courtney Pin, Huge Masakela and Femi Kuti. I started composing, arranging, playing percussions and singing as a young boy. I have performed in notable musical events like the world music day, 1st and 2nd Lagos International Jazz Festival, Bayelsa International Jazz Festival, Muson Jazz Festival, Inspiro Jazz, HP partnership conference Lagos 2008, Jazz 33, cop17/cmp7 durban south africa, Jazz Hole etc.
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J erome GEORGE DRUMMER
Groove MASTER
THE
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My name is Jerome Love George. My stage name is Jaydrums, I am from Togo, but I was born and brougt up in Nigeria. I am 30years old. I started playing the strap drum since I was 12years old but I started playing professionally at the age of 18years. I have worked with the likes of GT, the guitarman, Alariwo of Africa, Wole Oni, Sunny Nneji, Wole Soyinka, Ben Ogbewi of MTN project fame, etc. I am the official drummer of Sweet Sound. I am married and blessed with a son.
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CONTACT: 17 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. TEL: 07062340010/ 08023040754 URL: www.sweetsoundband.net You can also follow us on: Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Google+
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Guys, What a fantastic evening of music.. Thanks for making it special British Deputy High Commissioner Ray Kyles
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When life leaves you speechless‌ Songs give you lyrics to find new meaning
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