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Ola Onabule
Ola Onabule will be performing this summer in Canada at Edmonton, 25th Anniversary of The Vancouver Jazz Festival And Victoria Jazz Festival. July 2009 saw Ola perform on the main stage of the Festival de Jazz de Montreal for their 30th anniversary festival and also Vanouver Jazz Festival last Summer.
Ola possesses a stunning voice of enormous range and emotional clout. His voice is beautifully clear and appealingly textured, almost classical. During his shows there are moments when he lets fly with a kind of yodelling ululation and a range and elasticity to match his rich tonal qualities. The influences of soul, jazz and African music come together in subtle and sophisticated melodies and time signatures.
Ola began his career on the Elektra Label (Warner) but has since released six albums with the latest recording almost complete, Seven Shades Darker which will be released on his label, Rugged Ram Records. Ola has spent much of his career concentrating on lyrics with songs that are layered with metaphor and allegory. Ola seemlessly documents the issues of the day with the universal subjects of love and loss. Ola has guested with some of America's finest soul and jazz artists including Diane Reeves, Gladys Knight, Al Jarreau, Patti Labelle, Roberta Flack, Joe Zawinul, Natalie Cole, and Roy Hargrove.
Ola’s 8th studio album, “It’s The Peace That Deafens” was recorded in a more acoustic setting with double bass, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with trumpet and saxophone. The album has been mixed by George Whitty in the US (3 x Grammy winner.
The album,is as much a work of exploration as it is a declaration.12 evocative songs about identity, reconciliation and nostalgia. Words, melodies and rhythms that walk a delicate tightrope of paradoxes, born of both a childhood and adulthood immersed in two disparate cultures, on two different continents and at two different times. Ola’s mood is as resolute and certain as it is cautious and measured, suggesting the truth of the old adage: “The more you learn, the less you know for certain. The quality of Ola’s production and recording has attracted endorsements from the illustrious Neumann Microphones of Berlin and ACS in the UK. The songwriting is reminiscent of the great Soul and Jazz artists of the 1960s and 70s, whose music was able to change perceptions and open minds.
Ola's emotionally charged live performances have taken him to some of the most prestigious festival stages, concert halls and jazz clubs worldwide which include Montreal Jazz Festival, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Edmonton and Victoria Jazz Festival.
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Meet Ola Onabulé

by Cheryl K.
In this hour, an interview with British-Nigerian singer-songwriter Ola Onabulé and his Rugged Ram Records release Proof of Life. Also, cuts from new releases by trombonist and composer John Yao and His 17-Piece Instrument, singer-songwriter Paloma Dineli Chesky and guitarist Toby Wren's Standards Trio. Playlist John Yao and His 17-Piece Instrument The Other Way" from Points in Time (See Tao Recordings) 4:57 Michael Buckley Sloppy in Time" from EBB and FLOW (Livia) 6:16 [excerpt] Ola Onabulé Scoops" from ...
Continue ReadingOla Onabulé: A Tapestry of Soul, Jazz and Global Roots

by Angelo Leonardi
Singer-songwriter and producer Ola Onabulé shares insights into his life and work, spotlighting his eclectic collaboration with guitarist Nicolas Meier, which led to the release of Proof of Life (Self Produced, 2025). Both based in London, the British-Nigerian vocalist and Swiss guitarist discovered, during the isolation of the pandemic, a shared empathy in their diverse backgrounds and musical passions. The result is a striking sonic tapestry, where Onabulé's powerful voice--spanning soul, jazz, and African roots--intertwines with Nicolas' versatile ...
Continue ReadingOla Onabulè: una musica senza confini

by Angelo Leonardi
Il cantautore e produttore Ola Onabulé ci parla della sua vita e del suo lavoro a partire dall'eclettica collaborazione col chitarrista Nicolas Meier, che ha portato alla recente uscita dell'album Proof of Life. Entrambi residenti a Londra, il vocalist britannico d'origine nigeriana e il chitarrista svizzero hanno scoperto, nei mesi dell'isolamento pandemico, di condividere empaticamente i differenti background e le passioni musicali che li animano: è nato così un sorprendente affresco sonoro, dove la possente voce di Ola--che spazia tra ...
Continue ReadingOla Onabule: Point Less

by Mark Sullivan
British-Nigerian singer/songwriter Ola Onabulé has a rich baritone voice and a commanding presence. He's a soul singer above all, but also draws on pop, world music and jazz. Despite its title, opener Throwaway Notion" is a catchy tune with a Pan-African groove, and very dark lyrics about the current race to the bottom in politics all around the world. Guitarist John Parricelli contributes memorable lead and solo guitar. The Old Story" has a slinky Latin feel. But Exit Wound" uses ...
Continue ReadingOla Onabulé: It's The Peace That Deafens

by James Nadal
Success in the music business can offer the artist several choices, to continue doing what is popular, or decide to take music in a personal direction. With a respected discography going back to 1995, and having pushed the edge of soul-pop in the UK and Europe, versatile vocalist Ola Onabule opts for expanding upon his diverse bi-cultural heritage in It's The Peace That Deafens. Creating a dramatic departure from his previous releases, Onabulé explores jazz inclinations, world influences, and personal ...
Continue ReadingOla Onabulé - United States CD Premiere At Mintons' On November 6th With The Duane Eubanks Quartet!

Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
UK-Nigerian singing sensation recently sold out Royal Albert Hall with Diana Krall! CD release event at Minton's for It's The Peace That Deafens (Dot Time Records) Ola Onabulé makes his U.S. premiere performance of the critically acclaimed new release Its The Peace That Deafens" on November 6 at Minton's Harlem. Backed by the Duane Eubanks Quartet, this one-night only appearance promises to shake the rafters! He has just completed a sold out run at Royal Albert Hall with Diana Krall. ...
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Ola Onabulé - "It's The Peace That Deafens" Release Date: September 18, 2015 On Dot Time Records!

Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
UK Singing Sensation! New CD: It's The Peace That Deafens (Dot Time Records) Release Date: September 18, 2015 Following up on his recent UK chart success with the re-mix of Soul Town, Ola Onabule’s new album It's The Peace That Deafensis his 8th studio album and marks a departure from his previous two releases featuring a largely acoustic set uniting jazz, soul and world influences. The album contains 12 evocative songs about identity, reconciliation and nostalgia. Words, melodies ...
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Dot Time records signs UK Jazz/Soul vocalist Ola Onabule

Source:
Michael Ricci
By Peter McLaren New York based label Dot Time Records announced the signing of Jazz/Soul vocalist Ola Onabule today. In recent months Onabule has been making waves in both the jazz and soul scenes with sold out concerts in Europe including headlining the “International Jazz Day” concert in Romania and the current chart success of the re-mix of “Soul Town”—currently number 10 and rising on the UK Soul charts - from his “In Emergency, Break Silence” album. The first release ...
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Ola Onabule Releases "Seven Shades Darker"

Source:
Maria Avgoulis
Soul and Jazz, Singer and songwriter, Ola Onabule returns to British Columbia this November for his third visit to Canada after his magnificent debut in 2009 on the main stage of the Montreal Jazz Festival on their 30th Anniversary. Ola Onabule will perform material from his 7th studio album, Seven Shades Darker, which will be released in Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, France, UK, Belgium, Holland and Poland from late Autumn through to early Spring 2012. The album features 14 ...
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Ola Onabule Will Be Performing in Canada with His Six Piece Band on 26th June, 2nd July and 3rd July

Source:
Michael Ricci
Ola Onabule will be performing this summer in Canada at EDMONTON, VANCOUVER and VICTORIA JAZZ FESTIVAL. July 2009 saw Ola perform on the main stage of the Festival de Jazz de Montreal for their 30th anniversary festival and also Vancouver Jazz Festival last Summer. Ola possesses a stunning voice of enormous range and emotional clout. His voice is beautifully clear and appealingly textured, almost classical. During his shows there are moments when he lets fly with a kind of yodelling ...
read more
WHAT THE PAPERS ARE SAYING.... "To describe Ola Onabule as a sweet-voiced singer-songwriter from Lagos would be perfectly true, but it doesn't tell the whole story...instead he has chosen to go his own way, with original material from albums such as In Emergency Brake Silence and The Devoured Man...with a voice that is beautifully clear and appealingly textured, almost classical. There are moments when he lets fly with a kind of yodelling ululation like a more radio- friendly Leon Thomas??...with a range and smoothness that recalls singers such as Luther Vandross and more recent pretenders to the soul-pop crown, such as Frank McComb and Van Hunt." John L Walters,?The Guardian, Tuesday September 4, 2007 "The soulful singer Ola Onabule is currently on tour to promote his new album THE DEVOURED MAN.? The cd sees the African born artist in a more political mood than usual, but audiences can still expect the compelling stage performance to which they are accustomed" - ROGER TRAPP, THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY, TOP 5 SHOWS - August 07 "The UK's answer to Donny Hathaway..." - THE BASEMENT, August 07 "The Devoured Man..