Review: Inside Jude Olabanji’s Colourful World of Cellos and Catharsis By Emmanuel Daraloye

Threading through the libraries of Nigerian gospel instrumentalists, one name stands out among the list of cellists: Jude Olabanji. The arranger and cellist whose recent work, Faith & Love, Vol 1, continues to draw positive reception, flourishes with a soulful, intimate and arresting style that sets him apart from his peers.
 
In Faith & Love, Vol 1, he ferries the listener on a voyage of sonic fusions, bridging folk, worship and jazz traditions in an outstanding Cello rendition. He mirrors each song with the Cello, phrasing the instrument like a human voice, although with diverse musical twists. He opens the 3-tracker EP with “Oju Rere”, a folk-leaning ballad, interpreting it with an intensely sombre tonal structure that could give one goosebumps. The song, a prayer of goodwill, comes alive in its brilliant hook arrangement, with horns, vibratos and prayer chants elevating its delivery.
 
The second track, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” feels more neutral in its outlook; especially as it captures a broader perspective of love beyond our love for God. It’s a powerful remake of Elvis Presley’s 1961 classic of the same title, dazzling with the same jazzy percussions and Olabanji’s charismatic Cello bowing. The song soars with stretched vibratos and a slow-burn pace that immerses the listener in a soothing and mushy mien. It closes with what the Italians would describe as a ritardando, a climaxing descrescendo that pulses with stretched notes. It is exactly the type of display that highlights Olabanji as a master of tempo and cadence within the alluring soundscape of the Cello.
 
The EP concludes with “Climb Every Mountain”, an inspirational track that brings cohesive clarity to Olabanji’s sonic philosophy or direction in the record. The song flips the song from Rogers and Hammerstein’s 1965 “Sound of Music” soundtrack. Olabanji’s composition drifts with the same dark tonal structure that begins the EP, punctuating the melancholia with airy Cello dolce sounds towards the hook in such a way that illustrates the idea of a pandora’s box. It arrives like a hidden burst of catharsis, crescendos that reassure one of light at the end of the tunnel. That visual affirmation is well communicated in “Climb Every Mountain” as Olabanji fluctuates the groove from moody to lighthearted.
 
Olabanji’s halo as a Cellist, perhaps, arises from instinct. It’s the stuff of legends; think Yo-Yo Ma and his Bach Cello Suite No 1 performance from 2011, and you’d see why knowing what works might just be a matter of trusting one’s gut. In Faith & Love, Vol 1, Olabanji’s expertise as an arranger shines brightest as he creates a soundscape that’s not only memorable, but also so sharply contrasting of popular soundscapes that it soars with strong replay value. It’s a deeply soulful, uplifting and cathartic sonic experience that highlights Olabanji’s maestro across contemporary African neo-classical music. With strong cultural undercurrents, powerful themes and a standout delivery, Faith & Love Vol, 1 arrives as an evergreen spin and a noteworthy addition to the library of Cello-based instrumental recordings in African music.
 
Jude Olabanji is a Nigerian-born professional cellist with over a decade experience performing live in ensembles, and orchestras. A renowned performer, Olabanji has played for industry heavyweights including Asa, Olamide, P-Square, Asake, Wretch32, Libianca, Pozer, and The Compozers. He is revered for his mastery across Classical music, Pop, Hip Hop, RnB, and Afrobeats. He’s presently among the vanguard of instrumentalists putting African music in the global spotlight.