Presenting Ife Ogunjobi

Nov 24, doors open at 2pm: Tickets: goo.gl/2kw53c

Today we introduce Ife Ogunjobi , a young and talented trumpeter and composer already a very familiar face in the present UK Jazz Scene. Coming from the Tomorrow´s Warriors family, with only 18, he´s fast building his own profile...

Lets know more about him:

Ife, Can you tell me more about your start in music?

My first instrument was actually piano. My parents got me involved with music from a very young age. From the age of 6 I had already started having weekly piano lessons at my local music school. At the age of 10 my parents took me to see the legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. This was my first time seeing the trumpet played in such a unique and creative way which instantly drew me towards the instrument. After that concert I continued my musical journey with the trumpet being my main instrument.

What genres influence your playing?

So many different genres influence my playing and my music. I have spent so much of my time loving and studying the great jazz trumpet players such as Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw and the list goes on. So these legends are basically the building blocks of my trumpet playing. However in recent years I have also been very heavily influenced by some of the younger trumpet players in America such as Marquis Hill, Keyon Harrold, Christian Scott and Nicholas Payton. These guys have had more of an influence on the delivery of my playing and have showed me how to adapt the style of the older trumpet players into a more modern context.

Regarding your own compositions, what fuels your inspiration?

When it comes to my compositions I simply tend to draw on things that enjoy to listen to everyday and this incorporates several different genres of music from Afrobeat, soca, hip hop, jazz, funk etc. Another element of my compositions is the aspect of groove. I find that I connect and enjoy music that I can dance or move some part of my body too. I think that this comes from me listening to so much music made for dancing, so this is a component which quite naturally occurs within my music.

You just started your Jazz studies at the Royal Academy of Music, What do you expect to gain from your time at RAM?

One of my main goals that I want to achieve during my time at RAM is to become as versatile as possible.

Not only as a trumpeter but also as a composer and arranger. In this day and age, having a range of skills and abilities is necessary to survive as a musician so developing my diversity is quite important to me. I also just wanted to place myself in an environment where I would be constantly inspired and motivated. It’s great to be playing alongside so many great musicians as they keep you on your game.

How is the experience of playing with so diverse projects like Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra and Moses Boyd?

I’ve been so privileged to play with such great friends, teachers and mentors like Dele and Moses.

Playing with Dele felt like something I had been a part of my whole life anyway as he is directly influenced by the great Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. Fela’s music was something that I grew up with as I come from a Nigerian background and my Dad is a big fan of Fela’s music. By the age of 12 I was already very familiar with tunes like ‘Water No Get Enemy’ and ‘Pansa Pansa’ so Fela’s music has always and will continue to be a large part of my life. So through playing with Dele I have been able to deepen my understanding of someone who I consider to be one of the most important musicians and political figures in history. Dele was mentored by Fela so through playing with Dele I feel like Fela is my musical grandfather.

Moses has been like a big brother to me as he as taught about so many things outside of what to play over “Cherokee”. He’s taken time out of his busy schedule to show me things about personal finance, music business, dealing with people and a myriad of other things which have helped me outside of just playing music.

I would say that the biggest thing that I have taken away from playing with Moses is that he makes music that is true to himself. His compositions incorporate a wide range of genres that he simply enjoys listening to. And he isn’t afraid to create music that doesn’t conform to jazz norms. This is what makes Moses’ music so unique.

For our festival you are presenting 4 original songs, tell me more about them?

I think that my compositions will reflect the range of musical influences I have been brought up with. They will give you an insight into my personality and also highlight how I perceive music. Hopefully my music will be able to connect with people on a more spiritual level, allowing them to interpret the music in their own way.

How do you see your future?

In the future I just hope to continue to play great music with great musicians wether it be my own music or other peoples music regardless of genre.

I don’t want to be limited by genres or styles, I just simply want to work with people that make engaging music regardless of what it is.

CATCH Ife Ogunjobi with his band plus individual sets from Roella Oloro and Noah Stoneman Trio on part I of this year #jazznewbloodALIVE2018 @EFG LondonJazz fest @waterloocreativestudio

NOV 24, Doors open at 2pm and music starts at 2.30pm, GET YOUR TICKET!!!

MORE INFO:jazznewblood.org