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Sweet Lu Olutosin

Jazz, Blues and Gospel are the foundational landscape Lutalo "Sweet Lu" Olutosin digs into to produce his euphoric Vocal Jazz renderings.

About Me

Atlanta-based internationally acclaimed Jazz vocalist and recording artist Sweet Lu’s latest project is called “Meet me at the Crossroads”. The Grammy contending Release, debuted at number 4 on the Billboard Jazz Albums Charts, just behind Gregory Porter and Norah Jones. During its next 3 weeks, it rose to number 1 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums Charts (https://tinyurl.com/yy639wlt).

While Sweet Lu Olutosin’s music consistently displays a unique and energetic creativity, it is his live performance that is the crown jewel of excitement in engaging modern Jazz.

As a youngster Lu's goal was to be an uninhibited singer using a mix of jazz, blues, and gospel to create music with the message of soulful, spiritual healing.
 This goal remains as Lu channels everything from Al Jarreau, Joe Williams, Lou Rawls, Eddie Jefferson, and John Lee Hooker in his performances creating his own unique vocal style. This musical odyssey did not take the expected route, however. Instead, his trek detoured with a 35-year stint in the US armed forces. Lu’s years in the military taught him the very important lessons of discipline, order, method and ultimately, belief in himself. Lu retired from the Army with the rank of full Colonel allowing his full immersion into the music that has been the backing track to his existence since childhood.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because jazz represents musical freedom. Although there is a form and framework to the music its is not restricted to that framework. Jazz conveys a spirit of truth much like the truth in Blues and in Gospel, its bursting with feeling and expression which can experienced through the improvisation of the players. I was first exposed to jazz when I was around 13-14 years old when I heard "You don't see me" by Al Jarreau on the radio. The song change my life and the way I judged the music I heard from that point on. I was amazed by the vocal freedom I heard as he sang, it was unreal to hear no inhibitions of any kind. Many years later I met Al Jarreau and continued to learn from him, what a wonderful soul he was. My advice to new listeners... slow down, sit down, close your eyes and listen. Let the music heal your soul and you will never be the same.