NIRAN OBASA (piano/keys),
DARLINGTON JOSEPH (bass) and
STANLEY OHIOS (drums)
A New Direction in African jazz with SPECTRUM
SPECTRUM are pianist/keyboardist NIRAN OBASA, electric bassist DARLINGTON JOSEPH and drummer STANLEY OHIOS. As SPECTRUM they combine evocative melodies of the pianist and keyboardist NIRAN OBASA, strong bass driven motifs by bassist DARLINGTON JOSEPH and deep grooves by the drummer STANLEY OHIOS. Together they create contemporary African jazz where jazz, afrobeat, hi-life and funk are fused together to create hypnotic free flowing exuberant modern African jazz with strong grooves.
NIRAN OBASA (piano/keyboards) Nigerian pianist NIRAN OBASA established his name as one of the foremost session musicians in Nigeria. Currently he is the musical director of The Yoruba Women Choir and the keyboardist in the afrobeat band Femi and The InRhythms. Lately he focuses on his own compositions that bring together his secular and non-secular vision to create improvisational music that is totally unique. His combination of afrobeat, hi-life, urban grooves and jazz solos brings something new to contemporary African jazz music.
DARLINGTON JOSEPH (bass)
Nigerian bassist DARLINGTON JOSEPH is a virtuoso electric bassist who has worked and shared the stage with the likes of Femi Kuti, Erykah Badu, Roy Hargrove, Angelique Kidjo, Jane’s Addiction and many more. A superb bassist who is blessed with techniques and touch. His big fat sounds make him the ideal partner in SPECTRUM which allows him to play solos within the rhythms being created by drummer Staley Ohios and the harmonic inventions of Niran Obasa
STANLEY OHIOS (drums)
Nigerian drummer STANLEY OHIOS built his name playing in Nigerian churches and with the likes of Wanda Baloyi, The Dawnay Band, Winnie Kumalo, Kunle Ayo, Femi Ogunkoya, Steve Rhodes Orchestra, Hope Davis and many more. SPECTRUM allows for greater responsibility – playing rhythms with a simpler and tighter groove. He is not a
just a drummer but a conception drummer like Arts Blakey, Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, Tony Allen and Dave Weckel. A drummer that creates groves behind a complex arrangement.