Sweet Lou's Blues (Digital Download - Release )

Call Him BlackJack

Raw track from upcoming Soul-Jazz Project 2014

Sweet Lou's Blues

Vocalist “Sweet” Lu Olutosin proudly bears the honorific nickname of an honored of sweet bat swinging and basketball shooting sports heroes named Lou; from a jazz perspective he keeps good company in the sweetness department with the great saxophonist Lou Donaldson. Meet Me at the Crossroads is Lu’s third outing as a leader, and a honeyed follow-up indeed to his last date, Sweet Lou’s Blues from 2014.

Born in Gary, Indiana, raised primarily in Jackson, MS, and currently based in the Atlanta area, retired military Colonel Lu Olutosin has adopted a deeply ingrained familial immersion in gospel music to develop a most soulful approach to jazz song. Though anything other than gospel music was frowned upon in his upbringing, a chance aural encounter with Al Jarreau set Lu on the path to musical independence as he assertively responded to the irresistible call of the art of the improvisers.

For this latest outing Sweet Lu has enlisted the assured hand of pianist-composer Donald Brown in the producer chair. The two met on the strength of Brown’s thumbs up to Lu’s lyric to Brown’s magnetic “Theme for Malcolm”. “Donald heard my lyric,” Lu reveals, and “he loved it,” said “it was very creative the way you told the story.”

Lu has chosen his compadres well, accompanied throughout by the rhythm section of his arranging partner Tyrone Jackson on piano, bassist Kevin Smith, and drummer Henry Conerway III. For certain selections he broadens the instrumental palate with trumpeter Lester Walker, and tenor saxophonist Mace Hibbard, employing some of the Southeast’s finest practitioners to give wing to this balanced program.

Open up those ears and that sensibility and “Meet Lu Olutosin at the Cross Roads.”


Willard Jenkins is a DC-area based journalist, broadcaster, and concerts/festivals curator who can be found at www.openskyjazz.com.

10 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - How They Do That - Sing along track

08 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - Tunji Baby

07 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - You'll Never Find (Another Love Like Mine)

06 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - Dancea Swing A Nova (Swing Anova)

05 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - Skin Game (Granny Said It)

04 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - Sister Sadie's Blues (Intimacy Of The Blues)

03 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - How They Do That

02 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - Love You More Than You Ever Know

01 - Lutalo  Sweet Lu  Olutosin - Still Swingin'

Lu (Sweet Lu) effortlessly blends straight-ahead and modern jazz styles with bossa nova and soulful rhythms. Dynamic, explosive and, cutting edge, are the identifiable characteristics that best describe his vocal jazz style. Charismatic, engaging and compelling best describe the experience when seeing Olutosin live.

Releases:
Tribute to Greatness ( 2011)  
Sweet Lou's Blues (2015) 
Meet Me At The Crossroads (2017)

Contact:
Marketing Management
Nekt@sweetlumusic.com

Management
kathy@sweetlumusic.com

Sweet.lu

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