Africa Today

Hailed by Seun Kuti as ‘one of the best things to come out of Lagos,’ the trumpeter and composer Etuk Ubong seems to play a similar role in the Nigerian musical firmament to the young tyros who are currently reinvigorating the London jazz scene. Still in his 20s he's been leading his own band since he was 21 and had a spell studying in South Africa – which perhaps explains why you can hear the spirit of Hugh Masekela as well as the Kuti clan on this rather fine album. His playing on tracks such as ‘Ekpo Mmommom’ and ‘African Struggle’ has a velvet tone as he mixes Afrobeat, highlife and other African forms with the influence of American jazz greats to create a sound he simply calls ‘Earth music.’

Backed on six original compositions by a five-piece Nigerian band including keyboards, trumpet and tenor sax, the music is imbued with an impressive energy that sounds spontaneous but is meticulously crafted. The rhythmic, chant-like vocals are kept to a minimum so that the spotlight remains on the playing but titles such as ‘Purpose of Creation’ and ‘Spiritual Change’ are evidence of a higher purpose. Seun Kuti got it spot on.