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Top 10 for Dec

'POINT LESS' songs are powerful both musically and lyrically, and Ola Onabule's voice is a consistent joy to hear / CD Hot List

We'll call this one "jazz," though singer-songwriter Ola Onabulé has long bestrode multiple genre categories. His background includes extensive gigging with small combos and big bands around Europe, and although it's clear that jazz remains foundational to his art, on Point Less he is putting jazz tropes to use in promoting a vision that is at least as much social and political as musical. With his warm, grainy voice, he tells stories about the aftermath of violence, the effects of prejudice, and the spiritual gravity exerted by one's homeland. The messages, however well-intentioned, would be ineffective if the music were less compelling, but these songs are powerful both musically and lyrically, and his voice is a consistent joy to hear. He's performing a few select dates on the US east coast this fall, so keep an eye out for him–I'm willing to bet that he's a powerhouse in concert.

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