Only someone with Jerome Sydenham's unique background could have founded a record label as innovative as Ibadan Recordings. He was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria to an English father and Jamaican mother and schooled in his teens in England before emigrating to New York City in the early 80's. Sydenham's work today is largely influenced by the cultural diversity of his upbringing and has echoes of a musical history that spans indigenous African and contemporary western music.

One of the many artists who benefited from Sydenham's artistic direction was New Jersey based Kerri Chandler. In 1991, Sydenham was part of the A&R team that signed Chandler's debut single "SuperLover/Get it Off", to Atlantic Records and the rest is house music history. Chandler is now acknowledged as one of the original creators of the deep house sound and his bass lines are legendary.

Sydenham and Chandler's ambitions fused creatively with the inception of the Ibadan imprint six years ago. Saturday represents the culmination of their shared experience as music makers, party animals and fathers. Sydenham takes artistic control of the repertoire with an album that reflects the breadth of his musical interests. Chandler acts as a flawless technician, refining and making sense of a wide range of ideas. The record, a well rounded full length, has something for everyone. It combines simple, deep, electronic tracks (Rising the Sun and Winter’s Blessing) with elegant acoustic arrangements (Aro and Deconstructed House). Congolese vocalist Alain Nkosi Konda joins Cameroonian guitarist Dominique Kanza on the mammoth "Ko Ko" produced by Sydenham and Dennis Ferrer of Sfere Records. Sydenham and Ferrer follow up with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jania on "Deconstructed House", a funky, Brazillian hybrid of influences. Saturday also benefits from a significant input by local New York jazz luminaries. Guests include bassist Tarus Mateen and keyboard player Brian Mitchell.

Reviews

"Perfect sunny afternoon music for midnight groovers" (Urb)

"A gorgeous release, full of variety and originality, and one that grows and gleams more on every listen" (Wax Magazine)

"An embarrassment of riches? An album that fully deserves to be hyped to the max" (Jockey Slut)

1. Kò Kò
Percussion: Doug Hinrichs. Guitar: Dominique Kanza. Recorded at Sfere Studios, Union City, NJ. Produced, mixed and arranged by Jerome Sydenham and Dennis Ferrer. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

2. Candela
Percussion: Doug Hinrichs. Keyboards: Brian Mitchell. Recorded at Kryptic Bass Monster Studio, Union City, NJ. Produced, mixed and arranged by Jerome Sydenham and Kerri Chandler. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

3. Rising The Sun
Recorded at Kryptic Bass Monster Studio, Union City, NJ. Produced, mixed and arranged by Jerome Sydenham and Kerri Chandler. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

4. Beat Down

5. Winter's Blessing
Recorded at Kryptic Bass Monster Studio, Union City, NJ. Produced, mixed and arranged by Jerome Sydenham and Kerri Chandler. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

6. Jehlaz featuring Jehlaz
Vocals: Jehlas. Produced,mixed and arranged by Dennis Ferrer. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

7. Àró
Trumpet: Brian Lynch. Electric Guitar. Bass: Taurus Mateen. Percussion: Fred Walcott. Traps: Kerri Chandler. Horn Section: courtesey of Antibalas. Baritone Sax: Martin C. Pena. Trombone: Michael Wagner. Trumpet: Jordan McLean. Produced, mixed and arranged by Jerome Sydenham. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

8. Deconstructed House (Phase 1)
Guitars: Jania. Bass: Jania. Vocals: Jania. Monkeys: Dennis Ferrer. Recorded at Sfere Studios, Union City, NJ. Produced, mixed, and arranged by Jerome Sydenham and Dennis Ferrer. Bodija Music Publishing (ASCAP).

9. 36 Degrees

10. Kò Kò (Vocal)

Deconstructed House (Phase 2)