Nigerian born vocalist Douye’ does an excellent job bridging the gap between jazz and African sounds on this album of standards, presented through the lens of Africa’s horn. She’s teamed up with American artists like Sean Jones/tp, Buster Williams/b and Lionel Loueke/g along with African artists Dokun Oke/g and Janite Agindotan/perc and rich arrangements from Zem Audu, Bada Ken Okulolo and Tosin Aribisala.
Douye’ is romantic with Loueke’s guitar on a percolating “I’m Confessing That I Love You” and the elliptical “Fly Me To The Moon” and is sleep bopping around Williams’ bass for “Devil May Care”. Jones is soft with the singer on “My Funny Valentine” and a big band is warm in support for a charming “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Fellow Nigerian Dapo Torimori brings exotic guitar work to an enticing “Afro Blue”, but Douye’ is fragrant throughout as on a tropical take of Duke Ellington’s “Azure” or a soulful “Speak Low”. I’ve missed two chances to see her sing in person; I’ll work on not letting it happen again.