Creative Resilience was delighted to produce Sodi Cookey’s inaugural show at The Camden Club. Back onstage with his full live band after a three-year hiatus, Cookey gave a barn-storming performance. The packed venue was treated to two hours of incredible African-jazz-infused music - ranging from standards, like a rendition of Sarah Vaughn’s Misty, to Nigerian hi-life to down-and-dirty funk. Raised in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Cookey continued to show why the continent is a melting pot of musical talent able to compete on the international stage in any musical medium.
As a natural counter-tenor, Cookey’s incredible range and charismatic performance combined a unique blend of velvet vocals, rich-raw melodies and provocative story-telling. He infused jazz and soul harmonies with enthusiastic audience participation - often asking for and getting calls and responses which visibly delighted him.
He prefaced each song with stories, personal histories, or inspirations; painting a picture of a beloved uncle’s descent into Alzheimer’s with the heart-breaking ‘Here I Am’; or the devastating effect of the Oil Industry on Port Harcourt’s ecology with ‘My Mind’. ‘Contradictions Of Life’ described the conundrum of being in love with two people at once and a rare foray into the afro-house territory brought the well-received ‘Love Put A Hit On Me’. The new single, ‘Show Me’ which echoed the great soul singers of the past, like Teddy Pendergrass or Marvin Gaye, was nostalgic and magical - something often missing from the current roster of soul music.
Cookey showed himself a playful and versatile song-writer and performer - often breaking off gorgeous love ballads to engage in humorous asides; or capable of taking his audience ‘to church’ with a rendition of Al Green’s ‘Jesus Is Waiting’ and an original composition, ‘Sing Hallelujah’ without ever sounding preachy. Cookey’s fashion stylist, Samson Soboye, was also celebrated in the song ‘Looking So Good’ - an ode to his stage outfit.
The show escalated into Nigerian high-life with the ‘Spaghetti’ finale and after two encores, Cookey had his audience eating out his very talented hands.
