Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo, Last year in February, the guitarist was honoured as an Ambassador for One Organisation alongside 18 other musicians including D’Banj, Femi Kuti, Omawunmi Magbele, Liz Ogunbo,
That was not the end for Kunle Ayo, as in March 29, 2014, the musician got London to a standstill during his Kunle Ayo Live in London Concert and DVD recording. The concert took place at the Swanky Under the Bridge venue, which is under the Chelsea Football stadium in Stamford bridge, London. The concert was attended by the who’s who in the UK entertainment industry. The DVD will be released this year.
Other concerts of note that Kunle performed at during his busy schedule this year, includes the Ugu Jazz Festival held in Durban, Safaricom International Jazz in Kenya, Eldos Jazz Festival, Lesotho Tourism Festival and the Calabar Jazz festival in his hometown of Nigeria. He’s also playing at the Jazz Clubs in Johannesburg including The Orbit Home of Jazz and Winnies Jazz Club to mention a few as well as corporate functions and private parties.
On the 1st of September, 2015, Kunle released his single from his new Album titled “ILE” (which means home in Kunle’s native Yoruba tongue) in which he featured Zimbabwe’s Guitar Giant, Oliver Mtukudzi. Ile features the unique talents of both guitarists, whose natural in-studio chemistry makes for a smooth blend of the best that African jazz has to offer.
The song, performed in Shona and Yoruba, talks about the importance of home and that feeling of comfort and safety of being at home. Ile inspires a longing for the familiarity of home, regardless of how close or far it is.
Sequel to this, The long awaited Live DVD recording titled “Kunle Ayo Live in London” was released on the 30th of April 2016.. It features Mobo award nominated artist, Femi Temowo, Multi-award winning Alto Saxophonist, Soweto Kinch and a host of others.
The song, performed in Shona and Yoruba, talks about the importance of home and that feeling of comfort and safety of being at home. Ile inspires a longing for the familiarity of home, regardless of how close or far it is.
Multi-Award winning Nigerian born Jazz guitarist, Kunle Ayo is looking forward to the release of his new and 6th studio album release titled “Atunse the Revolution”, in which he features the internationally acclaimed musicians like Bra Hugh Masekela, America’s great Saxophonist Kirk Whalum and Zimbabwean guitar giant, Oliver Mtukudzi. The album is set to be released later this year and comprises of smooth African contemporary jazz which is ethnically influenced. Due to the demand for diverse styles of Music, Kunle Ayo stands out as one of the artists who has retained his roots as a Nigerian Jazz Guitarist.
He celebrated his birthday on September 11, 2014 in a special way by spending time with motherless babies of Resthaven Baby Sanctuary in Turffontein, Johannesburg. The centre received groceries, toiletries, food and educational materials. They also received computers from the One Organisation, as part of the gifts to celebrate Kunle’s birthday.
Currently Kunle produced the album of South African jazz vocalist and award winner Simphiwe Dana and other musicians from the House of Masekela stable(HOM).