Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Perhaps most famous for being the late Amy Winehouse's musical director, London-based Nigerian-born jazz guitar virtuoso Femi Temowo's latest release is loosely based around his native Yoruban tradition of storytelling and sees him marry his African musical roots with a fine line in contemporary jazz. In fact, the album's opener "The Storyteller's Psalm" is a perfect example of this approach and the 10 minute jazz exposé sees a host of guest soloists take their turn to say their piece - very much in the way African stories are indigenously told - and sets the scene for an album of fine performances. Whilst the following two tracks, "Awon" and "Orin Ayo", continue in the contemporary jazz vein with Temowo's playing referencing guitar heroes such as Wes Montgomery and George Benson, the likes of the acoustic and ultimately more accessible "Asiko Aye" - featuring a warm vocal performance from Cleveland Watkiss - provide diversity in what is an already varied collection. Temowo has chosen to employ the services of top notch musicians to achieve an album of spectacularly skilful proportions and his core band of Troy Miller (drums), Michael Olatuja (bass) and Grant Windsor (keys) is augmented by some stellar turns by the likes of saxophonist Jean Toussaint and talking drummer Ayan De First on the smooth "Like A Peaceful River" and the African "Sunmo Mi" respectively. Temowo and his band get a chance to shine in the stripped down "Years Of Blue" and "The Drummer's Call" which sees some delightful interaction between this obviously close knit and supremely gifted unit. Some late night jazz is thrown in for good measure with the laidback title track ending a stunning album.

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