I recently finished the soundtrack for a film by Nigerian/Canadian filmmakers & brothers Alfons (Director/Producer) and Robert Adetuyi (Writer) called High Chicago. High Chicago is an independent drama based on the true story of their Nigerian father and his struggle to move beyond his dreaded life in the Midwest copper mines and fulfill his dream to build the first drive-in movie theaters in Africa.
Because the film is a 70’s period piece and bridges thematically between the Midwestern US and Africa, we chose to include some amazing music of the time by legends like Hugh Masekela, Fela Kuti, Isaac Hayes, War and The Undisputed Truth. I also chose to feature two wonderful artists in my score for the film – West African Singer/Bandleader Alpha Diallo and Cuban Trumpet Virtuoso/Composer Arturo Sandoval. It was an honor and a pleasure to create with both of them and do something musically that draws from but readily crosses over borders too often created between generations, cultures and geographic centers. Just like the film’s central theme is universal, the soulful sounds that defined classic recordings of the time infused music across the globe.
Musically, the late 60s and 70s have always been the most inspiring and an ongoing source for my own work. Socially, the work that so many of the artists were doing at the time with their music to shift consciousness and culture is one of the great motivators for my work with artists and organizations around the world today. Personally, growing up in Detroit during the Motown era, the music was my lifeline and grew to be part of my own emotional and creative fiber.
People often ask me what kind of music I create. Because I working in so many genres and styles, from Hip Hop to Symphonic pieces, the only sure common thread I can identify is influence of the Soul music of my upbringing. I am always at home there.
