EKI SHOLA DARE TO LOVE FREE (S6 | E284)
This is part one – an episode of the Jazz New York radio show, featuring an interview with multi-instrumentalist and composer Eki Shola.
Musician, composer and physician, Eki Shola, is originally from London but now calls both the San Francisco Bay Area and Japan home. Born in Hackney to Jamaican parents, Eki Shola was raised in a musical family. She emigrated to the U.S. in ’87 and later as a pre-med student at Cornell, she performed in the jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Karlton Hester. In 2016, fueled by grief, she was inspired to release her debut album, Final Beginning. Subsequently, after a traumatic escape from the Sonoma County October 2017 wildfires, Eki Shola was further moved to focus more on her music and she composed Pieces, a trilogy, each album portraying a particular stage of reflection and healing. Her 5th album 還 Kaeru was recorded predominantly with local Japanese talents such as drummer Hidenori Tsugita, shamisen and shakuhachi virtuoso Uma Ebina, and Mongolian Morin Khuur maestro Tatsuya Okabayashi. This fifth album represents a captivating mix of traditional Japanese instrumentation with electro jazz elements.
Eki’s Story
Beyond genre confines, Eki Shola’s music encompasses jazz, electronica, soul, and more, reflecting her multifaceted artistry as a vocalist and pianist. As a practicing physician, she skillfully employs music as a means of healing, a role she’s embraced while sharing stages with luminaries like Dr. Donald Byrd and Steve Turre. Notable for her performances at the Blue Note Napa, Kyotophonie Borderless Music Festival in Japan and opening for Habib Koité, Bebel Gilberto, DakhaBrakha, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Kitaro and others, Eki Shola’s accolades include receiving the ASCAP Plus Award yearly since 2019, six NorBay Music awards and participation in prestigious artist residencies like the OBRAS foundation in Portugal. Additionally, her collaborations with Germany-based Oonops Drops and Japanese artists Nautilus, Shin-Ski, and SWING-O a.k.a. 45, along with her Japan and Europe tour supporting 還 Kaeru, reflect her dedication to cross-cultural collaboration and musical innovation.
Keep track of Eki’s progress on Instagram and at her website: ekishola.com
EKI SHOLA DARE TO LOVE FREE (S6 | E284)
