Review: A Percussion in Time…Behind Temitope Jaiyesimi’s Drumstick Excellence 

By Emmanuel Daraloye  
 
Temitope Jaiyesimi’s ascent as a percussionist, researcher and educator didn’t quite catch this writer’s eye, until recently, after stumbling on his performance at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, by the Akojopo Music Foundation in 2023. Jaiyesimi’s position in the orchestra as the percussion lead, specifically, playing the Marimba  introduced me to his maestro.

Punctuating the live performance of “Orin Tintin” with his subtle ¼ pace, Jaiyesimi’s tender percussion amplified the performance’s tonal colour and balance with a rare intrigue. His glide, slow paced and frenetic, layered the performance’s harmonic interpretation with emotional duality. Combining both moody and airy percussive patterns, Jaiyesimi’s pulse was felt as the plot mover for the entire soundpiece.
Articulated with a tight arrangement, Jaiyesimi’s immersive, raw and stylised showcase reverberated as both a mood filler and transitive device. In the performance’s outro, his shiniest moments in the performance surfaced with his controlled pauses, cinematic rolls and stops.

Further search down his YouTube rabbit hole led me to a similar percussive display at the Christmas concert, where he combined both the Marimba and Conga drum in an orchestra performance attended by thousands. Another performance revealed him during a charity fundraiser where he held a swashbuckling sway over a Timpani. Jaiyesimi’s most alluring quality across these  tttttttperformances is his masterful grip on tonal quality and articulation. Each display watched him ignite the crowd with his percussive sections that possessed harmonic synergy with each other instrumental section in the performance. The end result? A rousing cinematic catharsis that iced the cake for each performance.

Overall, Jaiyesimi’s percussive sojourn is marked with pleasure points from harmonic synergy, to tonal quality depth, to clever phrasing and articulation, weaving all his effort with drum sticks into an electrifying musicianship. And the best part? It’s enjoyable from start to finish.
Temitope Jaiyesimi started his musical journey from his local church choir, in Lagos. An experienced and driven music performer and educator, he has also contributed immensely to the growth and development of music education across Nigeria.  

After studying music at the Muson School of Music (Basic School), in 2008, he furthered with a diploma at the Muson’s Advanced School of Music as an MTN Scholar, in 2009, and he finished as the set’s third best student.
He also holds a degree in music from the University of Winneba, in Ghana, as well as a Grade 8 Percussion and Theory of Music certificates, respectively, from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) London.

A renowned stage performer, Jaiyesimi has performed with Afrokoko Root Band in Beijing, China in All Star Concert, Muson Symphony Orchestra, Lagos Nigeria, Àkójopò (Nigerian Art Music commission) 2022 and 2023 editions. He has also performed and recorded with notable Nigerian musicians, including Omawunmi, Sinach, Frank Edward among others.
Jaiyesimi is presently a principal percussionist at the Loveworld Orchestra, as well as Music Director at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and a timpanist at the Exquisite Brass and Percussion Ensemble.