Smooth 98.1 FM lived up to its motto ‘Love Music Love Life’ by hosting the all-star Luxury Concert at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, on Saturday 5 November. The radio station, a relative newcomer to Nigeria’s digital airways having launched in 2009, attracted the city’s high fliers and music fans with a stellar international line-up.
US-born saxophonist Pamela Williams opened the show with a set of super smooth jazz, which marked her Lagos live debut. After an interlude by local ventriloquist Bariyu and his Pigeon-speaking dog puppet, veteran South African guitarist Jimmy Dludlu took the audience on a five-stringed journey through his signature Afro-tinged jazz sound.
But the biggest draw of the evening was headliner Asa, who turned the show into her much-anticipated home coming gig. Looking especially cute in a black polo top, white tutu and high heels (which were eventually kicked off in favour of bare feet), she danced her way through tracks from her current album Beautiful Imperfection with her full band in tow. Maybe it was the tinkle of her ankle bells (part Pied Piper, part Morris dancer), or maybe it was the sheer joy the Paris-based singer songwriter exuded during the performance, but by the end of the evening, she’d bewitched the fully seated crowd into standing up and swaying along to her soulful, Yoruba-infused pop.
Courtesy Arise Magazine
Words Helen Jennings
Photography 37th State
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