Angelique Kidjo has received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best
World Music Album" for her album Eve. Eve, which debuted at #1 on
Billboard's World Albums Chart and a hit album worldwide, is a vibrant new
collection of songs dedicated to the power of African womanhood, particularly
those women she grew up with in her native Benin. Produced by Patrick Dillett
(David Byrne, Fatboy Slim), Eve, named after her mother, is a joyous musical
ode to the pride, beauty and strength of African women and their worldwide
socio-cultural influence. The recording
showcases Kidjo's extraordinary musical vision as realized by remarkable
players as well as women's choirs from several African villages in Benin and
Kenya singing in a wide array of native Beninese languages including Fon,
Yoruba, Goun and Mina. Joining Kidjo is
an exciting mix of new and well-known musicians including Dr. John, Rostam
Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), The Kronos Quartet and the Orchestre Philharmonique
du Luxembourg. Anchoring the album are
guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Steve Jordan, bass great Christian McBride and
Senegalese percussionist Magatte Sow.
The Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 8 and will air on
CBS at 8/7c.
Says the
Wall Street Journal: "An alluring and at times undeniable blend of funk,
traditional African music and Africa-inspired pop that Ms. Kidjo rides with
glee."
Kidjo's
accolades include a 20 year discography, thousands of concerts around the world
and being named "Africa's premier diva" (Time Magazine) and "the
undisputed Queen of African Music" (Daily Telegraph). Kidjo's 2008
recording Djin Djin won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album and
her last studio recording Oyo was nominated in the same category. She has enjoyed a long history of notable
collaborations with greats from the jazz and pop worlds—including Carlos
Santana, Bono, John Legend, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Branford Marsalis,
Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove and Alicia Keys. In an expansive career marked as
much by extraordinary musical achievement as passionate advocacy and
philanthropy for her homeland of Africa, Angelique Kidjo has found many ways to
celebrate the rich, enlightening truth about the continent's women beyond the
media spotlight.
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