International music star Angelique Kidjo's has notched her highest chart position ever, as her new album DJIN DJIN (pronounced "gin gin") bows at #61 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart, selling nearly 11,000 copies in its first week. The album has also entered Billboard's World Music chart at #1 and comes in at #56 on the Canadian Album chart.
DJIN DJIN was co-released on May 1st by Starbucks Entertainment and Razor & Tie Entertainment and has received rave reviews from the press. The Associated Press declared the album "lush, dense and beautiful", while The New York Times said of Kidjo's performances on the new album, "she handily reinforces her stature as an upbeat heroine of contemporary Afro-pop." The Washington Times stated, "Despite having been nominated four times, Ms. Kidjo has yet to take home a Grammy. If she continues putting material out like this, it's only a matter of time before she does." Kidjo and guest star Ziggy Marley will be performing a track from the album, "Sedjedo", on NBC's The Tonight Show on Tuesday, May 22nd and will appear on The CBS Saturday Early Show on Saturday, July 14th. The first single from DJIN DJIN, "Salala", featuring Peter Gabriel can be heard nationwide on such tastemaker radio stations as KFOG/San Francisco, WBOS/Boston, KCRW/Los Angeles and many more.
Inspired by the traditions and culture of Kidjo's native Benin in West Africa, the title of the album refers to the sound of the bell that greets the beginning of a new day for Africa. DJIN DJIN is produced by the legendary Tony Visconti (David Bowie, Morrissey, T. Rex) and finds Kidjo partnering with such luminaries as Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone and Ziggy Marley to create an album which is truly global in scope. The CD is available simultaneously at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as traditional retail.
Kidjo and her band of accomplished international musicians have been criss-crossing the globe on tour since February of this year, first as sole support for Josh Groban and currently on a run of headlining dates. Kidjo will again open for Groban on the second leg of his North American tour beginning in mid-July (see below for a full list of tour dates).
Angelique Kidjo on tour:
MAY
11 Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theatre
12 San Francisco, CA Herbst Theatre
16 New York, NY BB King's
17 Washington, DC Lisner Auditorium
18 Louisville, KY Brown Theatre
19 Somerville, MA Somerville Theatre
20 Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House
JUNE
10 New Haven, CT International Festival Of Arts & Ideals
16 Hollywood, CA Playboy Jazz Festival
22 Salt Lake City, UT Utah Arts Festival/Library Square
23 Aspen, CO Jazz Aspen
24 Taos, NM KTAO Solar Center
26 Sante Fe, NM Sante Fe Brewing Company
28 Montreal, QC Le Spectrum
JULY
17 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center*
18 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena*
20 Norfolk, VA Scope Arena*
21 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall*
24 East Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena*
25 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum*
27 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless*
28 Albany, NY Pepsi Arena*
30 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun*
31 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wachovia Arena*
AUGUST
3 Hershey, PA Giant Center
4 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena*
5 Westhampton Beach, NY Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
6 Albany, NY Washington Park Concert Series
7 Milwaukee, WI US Cellular Arena*
8 Green Bay, WI Resch Arena*
10 St. Paul, MN Xcel Center*
12 New York, NY Central Park Summerstage
14 Edmonton, AB Rexcall Center*
15 Calgary, AB Rengrowth Saddledome*
17 Vancouver, BC GM Place*
18 Seattle, WA Key Arena*
21 Napa, ID The Idaho Center*
22 Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena*
24 Stockton, CA Stockton Arena*
25 Anaheim, CA The Honda Center*
28 Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center*
29 Denver, CO Pepsi Center*
31 Omaha, NE Qwest Center*
*supporting Josh Groban
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