FEMI KUTI - DAY BY DAY

New from Femi Kuti is his latest studio release, Day By Day, a hybrid of Afro-pop, jazz and urban influences. The album has been a long time coming: seven years since his last studio album Fight To Win and four years since the live Africa Shrine, which contains early versions of three songs from this new album. ways Day By Day is a return to the glory days of Nigeria's big bands, of wailing organs, frantic polyrhythms and behemoth horn sections, playing against each other. Yet, now the palette is broader. "Do You Know" and "They Will Run" are undeniably jazz. "You Better Ask Yourself," "Oyimbo" and "Eh Oh" carry the air of lost messages from Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield. And then there is the title track, infused with gospel, suffering and ghostly echoes of work songs from the early 20th century. Classic Afrobeat, classic Kuti. "Everybody is back in training now," he smiles, "we have to re-establish my music. We have to come out and play it live, because the record industry is in such a bad shape, we are all suffering. He laughs, "luckily, the African man is used to suffering." Kuti is also slated for a 2009 North American tour (see dates below).

Femi Kuti 2009 North American Tour Dates

Jan 7 - 8 PM @ Paradise Rock Club - Boston, Massachusetts

Jan 8 - 9 PM @ Webster Hall - New York, New York

Jan 9 - 9 PM @ 9:30 Club - Washington DC, Washington DC

Jan 10 - 9 PM @ World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jan 11 - 8 PM @ GlobalFest at Webster Hall - New York, New York

Jan 14 - 8:30 PM @ Club Soda - Montreal, Quebec

Jan 15 - 9 PM @ Opera House - Toronto, Ontario

Jan 16 - 9 PM @ Majestic Theatre - Detroit, Michigan

Jan 17 - 9 PM @ Metro - Chicago, Illinois

Jan 19 - 8 PM @ Boulder Theater - Boulder, Colorado

Jan 22 - 8 PM @ The Fillmore - San Francisco, California

Jan 23 - 9 PM @ House of Blues - West Hollywood, California

Jan 24 - 9 PM @ House of Blues - San Diego, California