Olayemi Ogundola

Description

Music in itself has no language, nor barriers. And Jazz, more than most expressions embodies the ability to crisscross the borders and creeds of religion and other human stratifications and this I intend to do through my performance.
All things to a certain degree have what can be called a soul, that which essentially carries the core fibers and interwoven elements that make up the thing in question, and it is my goal to break into the soul of every tribe of men in the multi-cultural space of every nation across the earth.
This is not without some degree of ambition, as I'm driving towa ... rds becoming one of the most prolific jazz musicians in my generation both as a saxophonist and a composer. Art never dies, but I want mine to have a special brand of immortality to last all ages. I am strongly of the opinion that despite the multiplicity of voices and constant evolution in that creative space, I have a distinct voice and message that can stand its place. Beyond my energetic, yet soulful performance, I am passionate about a sound that brings about unity and healing in the soul.
It is my intention to explore the world culture through the medium of jazz, folk, pop, blues, to name but a few, and the ultimate end of this is unity; the creation of a bridge at which conflicts cease and trans-generational and lasting relationships are forged. A world such as ours is filled with myriads of cultural expressions, each with its peculiar medium, complexities and undeniable richness. I daresay it is a bold idea to seek unification for so many divergent cultures, but we have as a world seen the power of music to unite and give them a common cause to live for and a sense of belonging, and this through my service and performance is what I seek to achieve.
Jazz in itself is like a free form of expression which can be unscripted and just a pure rendition of the soul’s language which every man irrespective of any leanings can reckon with. As opposed to the historical tower of Babel where languages were dispersed, jazz would provide an atmosphere for the interfacing of every one under one language which is untainted.
These are my motivations and career goals; something beyond the transience of life and man’s puny attempts at immortality. Read More

Set-List

Body and Soul
All the Things You Are
Summertime
'Round Midnight
I Can't Get Started (with You)
My Funny Valentine
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
What Is This Thing Called Love?
Yesterdays
Epistrophy
Just the two of us
Donna Lee
When I fall in love
Blue bossa
The chicken
Koko
Confirmation
Say it-over and over again
My favorite things
Stella By Starlight
Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)
Star Dust
Willow Weep for Me
What's New?
Honeysuckle Rose
Sweet Georgia Brown
Caravan
The Man I Love star
In a Sentimental Mood ...
St Louis Blues
How High the Moon
Oh, Lady Be Good!
Take the "A" Train
Embraceable You
On Green Dolphin Street
Tenderly
The Way You Look Tonight
These Foolish Things
I'll Remember April
Love for Sale
Sophisticated Lady
Ain't Misbehavin'
Night and Day
After You've Gone
Laura
Lush Life
Sweet Lorraine
Don't Blame Me
Cherokee (Indian Love Song)
Night in Tunisia
Indiana (Back Home Again in Indiana)
You Go to My Head
There Will Never Be Another You
Georgia on My Mind
Satin Doll
Prelude to a Kiss
I Should Care
Stompin' At the Savoy
How Deep Is the Ocean?
I Cover the Waterfront
Come Rain or Come Shine
There Is No Greater Love
You Don't Know What Love Is
But Not for Me
On the Sunny Side of the Street star
Misty star
Love Is Here to Stay
Perdido
Tea for Two
It Could Happen to You
I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)
Skylark
Over the Rainbow
The Nearness of You
If I Had You
(I Don't Stand A) Ghost of a Chance
Angel Eyes
Out of Nowhere
Lover Come Back to Me
Darn That Dream
All of Me
More Than You Know
I Got Rhythm
Just One of Those Things
Mean to Me
September Song
Someone to Watch Over Me
I've Found a New Baby
Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Easy Living
Pennies from Heaven
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Memories of You
It Don't Mean a Thing
Just Friends
They Can't Take That Away from Me
Star Eyes
A Foggy Day
Alone Together
Just You, Just Me
My Romance
Things Ain't What They Used to Be
Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
Blue Moon
I Surrender Dear
You Stepped Out of a Dream
My One and Only Love
'S Wonderful!
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Here's That Rainy Day
What a wonderful world
Ain't no sunshine
All Blues
Au Privave
Bag’s Groove
Billie’s Bounce
Birk’s Works
Blue Monk
Blues for Alice
Blues In The Closet
C-Jam Blues
Cheryl
Chi Chi
Cool Blues
Equinox
Footprints
Freddie Freeloader
Freight Trane
Mr. P.C
Now’s The Time
Relaxin’ At Camarillo
Route 66
Sandu
Sonnymoon For Two
Straight No Chaser
Take The Coltrane
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
Watermelon Man
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Biography

Olayemi Ogundola born in Oyo town, Oyo State, Nigeria is an alto saxophonist, composer, and educator, born as the second of four children into a musically prone family on April 25 1992
Driven by a need to get quality education for his children, Olayemi's father took him through four primary schools till the final one; Lord's Primary School, Ilora, Oyo. Within this period, he was exposed to various styles of music from a very early age beginning with the church choir and choreography performances.
His secondary school at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Model High School,Oyo State ... had him taking recorder lessons from music teacher, learning the talking drum from the fine art teacher and joining the traditional group( winning a couple of awards with the group), representing the school in music competitions, rising to become the band prefect.
He was introduced to classical singing by his father who is a choir master in Methodist Church. Received his first lesson on music theory from a neighbor at age 16
His father forced him to stop his music lesson while in high school because he wanted him to be an engineer, but he would sneak out with two of his friends for music lessons before returning home from school. Not long after this, he got his first taste of jazz music at 18 after buying a CD titled "All My Tomorrows" by Grover Washington Jr and became very interested in the concept of improvisation and on the music of jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. Ever since then, it had become a genre he ardently pursued and constantly sought to get better in.
He got admitted to the university to study but could not afford to buy a saxophone. He would borrow from a friend to practice over the night before resuming classes.
He attended the Nigerian Baptist Music Workshop in 2011 where he met Olumide Shobowale, the Nigerian Representative at London College of Music who is also a saxophonist.
He was later faced with challenges and couldn't conclude his program at the university. Undeterred by this turn of events, he moved to Lagos in 2015 where he was exposed to a broader music scene of the country. He was later introduced to the practical exam Associated Board of the Royal School of Music where he had his first academic/career breakthrough. He got a scholarship to study with the Music Society of Nigeria where he joined the big band, orchestra and choir. He obtained his Diploma in Music and was able to attempt the Grade 8 practical exam on Alto saxophone with a merit and advanced choral singing with distinction.
Experience
His time at the Muson brought him further exposure to deeper expressions of his art.
He also joined and performed with the big band, orchestra, and choir. At Muson, Olayemi's classmates included Tombrapade Roberts, Raphael Lasisi, Temidayo Balogun, Tobi Stephens and Timothy Ogunbiyi. During his time in Muson, he was listed among the musicians as alto saxophonist to perform with Jo Kunnuji at the Muson festival. He was involved in the Music exchange and workshop program in May 2016, where he performed with Max Weissenfeldt and The Polyversal souls band from Germany featuring The Invisible Joy Orchestra. He also performed with the Muson orchestra and choir under the tutelage of the German Cellist and Conductor, Walter-Michael Vollhardt.
He has had myriads of gigs and performances ranging from Jazz karaoke at Prince Ebeano Supermarket and Jazz trio at Angelos Cafes. He has performed at the ShopRite Christmas show as well as alongside the band of Beautiful Nubia. Other notable places on his list of performances are Resorts, the Civic Center and Longy School of Music, featuring Jazz concert, orchestra, wedding party and launching.
He performed and had an apprenticeship in African Music with Tunde Jegede (composer and multi-instrumentalist in contemporary classical, African and pop music)while in Muson.
He has also performed and worked with Nigerian composers/artist such as 2face Idibia, Falz, Timi Dakolo, Seun Owoaje, Olumide Shobowale, Imoleayo Balogun in shows, and other performances.
As a member of the IRO band that came second in the Yamaha E band competition in 2018, Olayemi bagged the award of the best keyboardist and ever since has only sought to get better in all he does. He’s currently a graduate student at Longy School of Music, concentrating on Jazz and Contemporary music. Read More

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Experience

His time at the Muson brought him further exposure to deeper expressions of his art. He also joined and performed with the big band, orchestra, and choir. At Muson, Olayemi's classmates included Tombrapade Roberts, Raphael Lasisi, Temidayo Balogun, Tobi Stephens and Timothy Ogunbiyi. During his time in Muson, he was listed among the musicians as alto saxophonist to perform with Jo Kunnuji at the Muson festival. He was involved in the Music exchange and workshop program in May 2016, where he performed with Max Weissenfeldt and The Polyversal souls band from Germany featuring The Invisible Joy O ... rchestra. He also performed with the Muson orchestra and choir under the tutelage of the German Cellist and Conductor, Walter-Michael Vollhardt.
He has had myriads of gigs and performances ranging from Jazz karaoke at Prince Ebeano Supermarket and Jazz trio at Angelos Cafes. He has performed at the ShopRite Christmas show as well as alongside the band of Beautiful Nubia. Other notable places on his list of performances are the Inagbe Resort, the Civic Center and Muson featuring Jazz concert, orchestra, wedding party and launching.
He performed and had an apprenticeship in African Music with Tunde Jegede (composer and multi-instrumentalist in contemporary classical, African and pop music)while in Muson.
He has also performed and worked with Nigerian composers/artist such as 2face Idibia, Falz, Timi Dakolo, Seun Owoaje, Olumide Shobowale, Imoleayo Balogun in shows , karaoke performances
As a member of the IRO band that came second in the Yamaha E band competition in 2018, Olayemi bagged the award of the best keyboardist and ever since has only sought to get better in all he does. Read More

Previous Clients

Zuzu Launge Boston
Virtuosity Boston
Wally’s Jazz Club Boston
Longy School of Music
Roxbury library Boston
Community Music Center of Boston
2face Idibia
Dbanj

Suitable for

Anniversary Party Awards Ceremony Bachelor / Stag Party Bachelorette / Hen Party Bar / Bat Mitzvah Birthday Party (Adult) Casinos Christening Christmas Party Club Party Cocktail Party / Drinks Reception Community Event Concerts / Tours Conference / Meeting Corporate Event Dinner Party Engagement Party Festival / Outdoor Event Graduation Party Grand Opening Party Halloween Party Hanukkah Celebration High School Reunion HM Forces/Army/Navy/Military Event Holiday / Theme Parks Hotel Event Jewish Wedding Nursing / Care Home Event Private Party Product Launch / Promotion Quinceañera / Sweet 16 Party Restaurant / Bar / Pub Event Retirement Party School Event Session Work Social Club Trade Show / Exhibitions University / College Event Virtual Event Wedding Ceremony Wedding Cocktail/Drinks Reception Wedding Reception

Virtual Services Offer

Online Piano & Saxophone lesson

For over 10 years, Olayemi has taught students of all ages and levels of advancement in institutions. His students are the recipients of numerous awards and regularly receive the highest ratings in competitions and festivals. Many describe him as genuine and passionate, possessing a youthful, energetic teaching style that works well with most students. His creativity and patience allow him to help students grasp tough concepts and improve at a faster rate than they would on their own. Olayemi is currently on faculty at Community Music Center of Boston and American Academy of World Music, where he teaches general music, piano and saxophone.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: "My goal is to help students find their voice irrespective of the style of music they want to focus on. I love to tell my students to always see their instruments as their voice and not a type of machine. This posture helps my students to make the best use of materials and information acquired in each lesson, with the goal of owning their own sound. My curriculum is designed to help each student achieve their goal, walking them through the art of studying materials such as books and repertoire of different genres, from note-reading, performance, creative interpretations, composition, to the development of a healthy and virtuosic technique. My curriculum is designed to find ways that allow students to develop their uniqueness and strength by understanding their own learning abilities and by creating the most ideal learning atmosphere. It is important to take the craft and art of music seriously, as well as the development of our talents and skills. It is also vital to have fun with learning, teaching, and performing. I always try to provide an upbeat atmosphere for my students."