“Vintage Afrobeat from the man who used to open shows for the main man. A mainstay (on guitar and keyboards) of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 in the 1980s, Keji Hamilton can’t be accused of falling too far from the tree musically in the decade since his employer’s death. This is Afrobeat much as the man himself played it in the latter years of his career, though it lacks the grit and fury that made Kuti such an important musician in the 1970s. It would be difficult to imagine the Africa 70 recording a tune called Forever Live Jesus (Hamilton is now a pastor in Lagos), for example, although Bambiala (Beggars) and the anti-consumerism Designers would no doubt have been given an uproarious treatment. The band is well drilled, the horns and backing vocals wonderful, but there is never the sense that everything is teetering on the verge of collapse. Which might be why Kuti had him around so long.”

You can now buy the Keji album in mp3 format directly from our site!
Just click here and choose ‘add to cart’.

It will then be available as a stream, anytime of the day (24 hours), for a whole
week, from Friday 8th February on Totallyradio.com.

After that week it will be archived indefinitely for access by anyone (around the world) who has a subscription to the station.

For quick access to the web shows, click on this link. (Until 8th Feb you will be listening to the previous week’s show).

The ‘Keji’ album was also featured on Newystyle Radio’s Afrobeat show (anchored by Ade) on the 26th January 08. The shows runs in the Birmingham (UK) area on 98.7 FM and is streamed live on Newstyle Radio.

“After a thirteen-year sojourn, multi-instrumentalist Keji Hamilton returns with a new album of traditional Afrobeat music. Having spent many years playing with the legendary Fela Kuti, Keji is considered one of few current musicians who plays authentic Afrobeat — fusing jazz horns and instrumentation with African percussion.

Keji includes a variety of moods and themes, ranging from social/political commentary to tunes ready for the dancefloor. If you’re new to the genre, this is a great place to start!”

The Keji album is also available from iTunes, eMusic and Amazon.

‘Keji’, by Keji Hamilton & The Exousia Band

WM Recordings, together with Exousia Entertainment, is pleased to announce the upcoming online release of the self-titled album ‘Keji’, by Keji Hamilton & The Exousia Band.

Remember Keji Hamilton, the talented multi-instrumentalist who sharpened his musical teeth with the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as a guitarist and later as a pianist?

After a thirteen-year sojourn from the public musical eye, Keji Hamilton has re-emerged, imposingly, with his new album.

The ‘Keji’ album was recorded, after several months of rehearsals, at an analog Studio in Lagos, Nigeria.

‘Keji’ which contains 46 minutes of traditional Afrobeat music (a fusion of Jazz horns/keyboards and African rhythmic percussions) is an effective combination of slow tempo groove and fast-paced upbeat tracks. The songs capture a variety of moods and themes; they range from the political through social commentary to the inspirational. The pulsating rhythm of ‘Designers’ is guaranteed to drive you to the dance floor, while the heavy groove of ‘Innocent Blood’ would see you nodding and tapping your feet impulsively.

Keji Hamilton, who is a leading exponent of the Afrobeat genre of music, with an acclaimed world-class compositional prowess, has two and a half decades of experience as a musician. He is also a composer/arranger of the Jazz and Reggae genres of music.

One fan said, “Keji’s street-beats style is infectious and uncontrollable. His experiences are an open wound from which pours real love and deep soul-wrenching music.”

Cobhams Asuquo, a multiple award winning songwriter and producer also comments on Keji’s music:

“I have always seen Afrobeat as a genre of music that needs to be explored and exploited. It so happens that a lot of people who have delved into this genre of music have not, to the best of its capacity, taken the full and total advantage of it. I think Keji Hamilton has been able to capture Afrobeat with the same exactitude, even as Fela did

For all lovers of Afrobeat music worldwide, Keji Hamilton’s virtuoso performance at ‘The Return of Keji’ concert and the release of his new album ‘Keji’, have left no one in doubt that ‘Roots’ Afrobeat as established by Fela Anikulapo Kuti is back… and back with a big bang!

‘Keji’ is released online by WM Recordings.
The album will be available from all major download stores in january 2008.

For more information, contact:

charles@exousiaentertainment.com (+ 44 788.658.8786)
or info@wmrecordings.com

Also see:
www.exousiaentertainment.com
www.myspace.com/kejihamilton