October 20, 1999
Focus
ÌTliv Fortiani» (©baeruer-----------------
Page 3
Olu brings his own experiences to music
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_ . .
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using his music to address social
issues confronting humanity. One
for The Portland Observer
Captivating. Inspiring. Insight­ example is the first single “Baby
ful. Soulful. These are among the Can’t Leave It Alone,” a soul-stir­
multitude o f adjectives that come ring tune about a beautiful young
to mind when one experiences the girl going through the painful agony
sheer magic of25-year-old Harlem o f an addiction. Augmented by a
bom singer/songw riter/m usician crisp guitar lick and rich melody,
O lu ’s debut LP Soul Cathcher. “Baby C an’t Leave It Alone” has
Filled with songs o f introspection lyrics that are crafted to appeal to
and meditation on the totality of the anyone who has had a bout with a
human condition. Soul Catcher is a bad habit that they can’t seem to
stunning collection o f original ma­ shake - (“ I know it seems there’s
terial that weaves diverse musical no way out, but ask yourself a ques­
elements such as jazz, r&b, blues, tion before you score. Will I raise a
hip-hop and world beat music into child who’s free from doubt, or will
a w onderful aural tapestry that I be resting forever more?”) - and
falls in the tradition o f soul master
touches the heart and soul.
O lu’s concerns with social issues Curtis Mayfield’s classics “Stone
grow out o f his deep-seated quest Junkie” or “Superfly.”
»for spiritual solace in a fast-pace, Olu was later selected as member
increasingly hi-tech world that has o f the world-renowned Boys Choir
- forgotten to be mindful o f the cre- o f Harlem, touring Japan and the
• ator. To remain mindful o f the spiri­ Far East. As a young adult, Olu has
tual path, Olu divides his time be­ played in several bands playing
tween his Harlem home and his everything from jazz to rock. A his­
cabin in the Catskill Mountains, tory o f close calls with record deals
where he finds the spiritual insight all changed when a chance meet­
to continue his journey through this ing at the gym where he studied
Lama Kung Fu led him to Stuart
phase called life.
But as humble and soft-spoken as Matthewman, a member o f the Sade
Olu
vyiu A
is,
L», l.w
he a is vz w
certainly not shy j about and Sweetback bands. After devel
contributed story
n n a m i ♦ a-à za a-« z 4 c V» a r \ X l Z l t r l t r i p
oping Z» a z a casual
friendship with the
co-w riter/producer o f both Max­
well albums, Matthewman discov­
ered that Olu was a musician and
took his tape to Gee Street’s presi­
dent Jon Baker, landing him a deal.
Soul Catcher takes it name from the
healing instrument used by Native
American shamans to remove nega­
tive spirits believed to cause illness
(both mental and physical) in a per­
son. Likewise for Olu, whose fam­
ily heritage includes Seminole as
well as African-American book, the
title Soul Catcher becomes a meta­
phor for what he hopes his music
w ill do to his listeners and his
world. In many ways, Olu is a mod­
em day healer soothing the aching
souls o f a society hooked on vio­
lence, hate, and materialism. “ I
think that the world is sick and that
music can be used as a shaman’s
tool, because that’s originally what
it was. It was used ceremoni-
ously and for communicating
ideas to people who are right
there with you, and sometimes
to and from people who are
dead. If I can do my little part
to help make people feel bet­
ter, then so be it.
N I C O L A S
C A G E
Natalie Cole releases new Christmas album
CONTTUBUTEP STORY __________________ ___________
for
T he P ortland O bserver
On The M a g ic o f C h ristm a s,
Natalie Cole brings a new elegance
to more Christmas favorites, with
the same brilliant orchestration that
made Holly And Ivy a perennial
Christmas best seller - this time
with the symphonic flair o f the
w orld-renow ned L ondon Sym-
.phony Orchestra.
Highlights include a breathtak-
-ing “ O T annenbaum ” , a sw eet
_ _ . « •
__
“C hristm as W altz’, a sw inging
“Twelve Days o f Christmas” and
the classic “The Christmas Song”
performed by Natalie with her fa­
ther, Nat “ King” Cole.
Recognized for delivering a lyric
with uncom prom ising intensity,
Natalie grew up “ loving the classic
performances,” no matter the genre.
Her early appreciation for Ella
Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughn and all of
her father’s contemporaries soon
translated into a curiosity about art­
■ z»V» z as
a»» the Beatles,
Li o o 11 a * c and
iinrl flic
ists such
the
Rolling Stones. That curiosity
continues today.
“I think Lauryn Hill is car­
rying on that tradition of excel­
lence,” she says, when asked to
remark on any new standard-
bearers.
“She always makes a point
in her concerts and interviews
to talk about what’s come be­
fore and how important it is to
our entire musical legacy.”
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