Djin Djin

Angelique Kidjo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor &Tie
• ASIN: B000MTOWSU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,736 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > World Music > Africa > Benin
  • #11 in Music > World Music > Africa > Mali
  • #47 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Jamaica

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Angelique Kidjo has four Grammy nominations, a mantel-full of international awards, several dance hits, and notable appearances on film and TV soundtracks to her credit (to say nothing of being a major style icon and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador). So this Benin-born, New York-based singer-composer has long since gotten past having to prove anything to anybody--other than to herself. On Djin Djin (the title refers to a bell that sounds at daybreak in parts of Africa), she is self-indulgent in the best possible sense, shooting for a big, glossy, super-pop sound that nonetheless remains essentially, even devoutly, African in inspiration and execution. Produced by Tony Visconti (The Moody Blues, T. Rex, David Bowie, Boomtown Rats, and Morrissey), the release is a bewitching amalgam, with guest stints from Joss Stone, Carlos Santana, Branford Marsalis, Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Malian husband-and-wife team Amadou and Mariam, and noted reggae scion Ziggy Marley. Kidjo, her salty-sweet voice in top form, moves confidently from ballad to club track to homespun earthmover. She never for a second relinquishes control of the festivities, even during a hectic, Haitian-rara-influenced cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and "Lon Lon," in which she takes on--and takes over--French composer Ravel's "Bolero." --Christina Roden

Product Description

With DJIN DJIN (pronounced "gin gin"), Angelique Kidjo returns to the soul of Benin - and, for the first time, shares it with a cast of all-star guests, in a marriage of cultures that has significance far beyond music alone. 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.

The diversity represented by Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone, Branford Marsalis, producer Tony Visconti, and the others who contribute to DJIN DJIN speaks to the lesson of this project: For all the differences in the music of our time, the river of Africa flows through it all.

The key was to build DJIN DJIN on a Beninese foundation. The heartbeat, then, comes from percussionists Crespin Kpitiki and Benoit Avihoue, both members of Benin's Gangbé Brass Band. Details of their country's rhythmic heritage, specific in some cases to individual villages, feed the rhythms they lay down throughout the album.

To this mix Kidjo welcomes players whose backgrounds complement the idea of DJIN DJIN: drummer Poogie Bell, known for his work with Erykah Badu and Chaka Khan; funk keyboard wizard Amp Fiddler, whose credits include Prince and George Clinton; Larry Campbell, whose multi-instrumental work has adorned the music of Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, and Paul Simon; Senegalese bass giant Habib Faye, a fixture with Youssou N'Dour; guitarists Lionel Loueke, from jazz legend Herbie Hancock's band; Romero Lubambo, a Brazilian wonder whose credits include Diana Krall and Dianne Reeves; Joao Mota, from Guinea-Bissau and kora master Mamadou Diabate.

Produced by Tony Visconti. (David Bowie, T. Rex, Morrissey)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dynamic and exciting., October 21, 2007

By 

kons - See all my reviews

This review is from: Djin Djin (Audio CD)

She is an astounding performer, a world renowned, Benin born, Grammy nominated singer.
Her diverse music has won fans across the globe, as she effortlessly blends traditional African pop music with contemporary, modern grooves. She has been appointed as Good Will Ambassador by UNICEF, and performed her music in front of world leaders and dignitaries as well as millions of fans.
Her new CD, "Djin Djin" is a welcome return for this musical queen.
"I spent seven years following the roots of slavery to music -- America, Brazil and the Caribbean, Cuba also", said Kidjo, whose previous trilogy entries were 2002's Black Ivory Soul and 2004's Oyaya!.
"I wanted to go back to where all that music came from. I wanted songs to be based on the rhythms of my country (Benin), so a lot of these songs started with the percussion and the chanting. It was intense, extensive work to do."
Ms. Kidjo is an accomplished singer/songwriter in her own right, one who could easily sell millions of records at any given time.
Any collaboration with the "hot" artist of the day, to help boost record sales is totally unnecessary. If any such artist were presented on a full length disc of hers, it would certainly help further establish and solidify Angelique's reputation.
That is exactly what happens with this CD, as Angelique shares the stage with several celebrity musicians including Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar), Brandford Marsalis and Alicia Keys("Djin Djin"), Carlos Santana and Josh Groban ("Pearls"), Joss Stone ("Gimme Shelter") , Peter Gabriel ("Salala"), Ziggy Marley ("Sedjedo"), and African music legends Amadou and Mariam ("Senamou -(C'est L'amour)").
The result is a hybrid of musical styles and influences, all beautifully coming together. If you didn't have enough reasons to buy this CD before, you most certainly do now.
While the collaboration efforts are noteworthy and excellent, the real gems are found in the songs where Angelique is free to do her thing, unencumbered by making nice and sharing her vocal space with her guests. True, her work with Groban on the Sade reworking of "Pearls" is almost better than the original and it is one of the highlight songs of the album.
But she also shines brightly on "Ae Ae" and she makes us feel so at home on the shuffling "Papa".
To top it all of, Angelique hands in a amazing rendition of the classical piece Ravel's "Bolero" entitled "Lonlon", bridging European classical music with African folk.
The album sounds incredible thanks to super producer Tony Visconti's guiding hand on the boards. With a clean and dry mix being applied, there is very little outboard effects and studio tricks on the songs.
Every hand drum is heard with crystal-like clarity and every musician is heard clearly, making this one of the smoothest mixed albums heard in a long while.
My highlights : "Djin Djin", "Pearls" and "Awan N'La".
You will love it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The incredible Angelique Kidjo!, June 3, 2007

By 

Delancy Street Books (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Djin Djin (Audio CD)

Angelique! Congratulations on what is, in my opinion, your best album ever (and I've been a fan for a long time). Your CD photos couldn't be more beautiful and the music is magnificent; the decision to collaborate with such a diverse cast was genius! You are accomplishing your mission of teaching the world to appreciate, and sing, African music. You're one of the best singers and performers of our time and your body of work is astounding; I can't wait to see you live this summer. (And congratulations on your partnership with Starbucks!)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Angelique, May 4, 2007

By 

Mitchell A. Kopnick "urokop" (Janesville, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Djin Djin (Audio CD)

Her songs are intricate, musical and elegant as always. Her collaborations are wonderful. A true standout is the remake of "Gimme Shelter" with Joss Stone. Also the remake of "Bolero" is a treat, reminiscent of her "Summertime" cover. The overall intensity of the African pieces is perhaps 5% less than on previous discs and a ballad a la "Malaika" would have been welcome. Still a groundbreaking 'must have' for any Kidjo fan.