Ikechi Onyenaka - The City Dreams EP (2021) [Hi-Res]

  • 31 Oct, 08:03
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Artist:
Title: The City Dreams EP
Year Of Release: 2021
Label: Ikechi Onyenaka
Genre: Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Quality: 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC; 24-bit/96kHz FLAC
Total Time: 01:17:41
Total Size: 498 MB; 1.5 GB
WebSite:

Ikechi Onyenaka is a 24-year-old American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and recording artist from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania on the rise in the Phiadelphia music scene. Although his primary instrument is the alto saxophone, he also plays the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, piano, keyboard, bass, and drums. Ikechi’s musical journey began in 2006 when he became a member of the Highland Park Elementary School concert band in the 4th grade. He had recently started playing the clarinet and was just getting his feet wet in instrumental music. He played classical music for a year and was later accepted into the schools Jazz Band in the 5th grade. Being a member of this band was a life changing experience for him because his late band director, Brad Schoener, stressed the importance and fun of improvisation. He connected with jazz music on a deep level and sought out to teach himself jazz clarinet. After years of perfecting his sound on the clarinet, Ikechi decided to purchase an alto saxophone in the 9th grade in hopes a achieving the sound that he was looking for.

Shortly after, the alto saxophone became his main instrument because he was able to truly express himself while playing music with ease on the instrument. From there, he took it upon himself to learn how to play the rhythm section instruments (piano, keyboard, drums, and bass) so that he could describe the music that he was hearing in his head to his band members. Ikechi’s musical style draws from multiple sources and genres. With his original music, he explores the genres of Jazz, Funk, Fusion, R&B, Neo Soul, and Hip Hop. Ikechi’s playing and composition is heavily influenced by numerous artists. His main musical inspirations are Grover Washington Jr, Kenny Garrett, Gerald Albright, Casey Benjamin, Terrace Martin, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Thundercat, Robert Glasper, Musiq Soulchild, Nas, and J Cole.

Throughout out his music career, Ikechi has performed at multiple events and venues around the Philadelphia area. Some of which include Pennsylvania State Representative Margo Davidson’s 4th Annual Community Picnic & Backpack Giveaway, Upper Darby Mayor Tom Micozzie’s 69th St Studio Movie Grill Grand Opening VIP Party, Brad Schoener Music & Arts Festival, Drexelbrook Cocktail Hour, Pennsylvania State Representative Margo Davidson’s 5th Annual Egg Nog Sip Open House, Upper Darby Chicken Festival, Philly Rock ‘n’ Roll ½ Marathon 2014, Haverford Music Festival 2017, The Beatpeace Show, Rec Philly, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Heritage, Time Restaurant, and the Upper Darby International Festival to name a few.

During his high school career, Ikechi was given the opportunity to perform the American National Anthem to kick off the Brad Schoener Memorial Fund 5k Walk/Run and Music Marathon on Saturday, May 17th, 2014. Ikechi received the Outstanding Instrumentalist award at his junior year awards ceremony as well as becoming the recipient of the Brad Schoener Memorial Scholarship in 2015. He was also handpicked by Anthony Tidd, the director of the Creative Music Program for Jazz Faculty, to enroll in the Kimmel Center Jazz Camp of Philadelphia with no audition required. In this camp, he became the first chair alto saxophonist in the Kimmel Center Magenta Ensemble, the elite ensemble. Ikechi has also performed at numerous talent shows. On Saturday July, 30th, 2016, Ikechi and his quartet won the first place prize in the Teen/Adult Talent Night held at Theater 45 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Two years later, Ikechi earned the title of “Philly Rising February Standout” for winning the World Café Live Philly Rising Open Mic.

Ikechi has also made an impact on the music scene at Penn State Altoona. Since the beginning of his enrollment at the college, Ikechi garnered a reputation as an up and coming saxophonist, with numerous students referring to him with the nickname “Sax Guy”. He obtained this nickname because he was widely known for practicing his saxophone by the campus pond area. In February 2016, he made it on the headline for Altoona Mirror for performing at Penn State Altoona’s 7th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Reflection Lunch. He also had a news story done on him by Penn State Altoona entitled “Altoona Students Love for Music is Heard Throughout Campus” that was released on Monday, February 27th, 2017.

Ikechi has had the opportunity to play with numerous artists, both in and outside of the Philadelphia area. Some of which include Lady Alma, Reggie Wayne Morris, Sap Sounds, Jakeya Sanders, Talibah Safiya, Beatpeace, Del’s Groove, Swift Technique, The Living Sample, Full Circle Band, Lilac Ocean, Eh440, Flute Juice, James Santangelo Trio, Timothy Brey Trio, Pete Gaudioso, Warren Cooper, Al Chez, Chris Aschman, Victor North, Maurice Brown, Leon Jordan Jr, George “Spanky” Mccurdy, Dai Miyazaki, Aaron Goode, Stan Davis, Larry Lambert, Ja’far Barron, and Foster Child to name a few. On Sunday, April 23rd, 2017, Ikechi Onyenaka and his band, East Coast Experiment, were given the opportunity to open for Khalid and The Strumbellas at the Ivyside Off the Rails Concert held at the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania. One of Ikechi’s recent achievements was getting featured on NBC Sports Philadelphia. On Thursday, September 6th, 2018, Ikechi performed The Philadelphia Eagles Fight Song on the alto saxophone for NBC Sports Philadelphia at the Xfinity Live Center.

With his YouTube Channel, he has garnered over 3.49K subscribers, uploaded over 800 YouTube videos to date, and has been able to entertain well over 500,000 people worldwide with his vlogs, song covers, and performance videos. He has used his saxophone, piano, and bass tutorials to teach, motivate, and inspire both young and older musicians to either pick up an instrument or continue their musical journeys. Ikechi’s work has been shared by numerous world-renowned artists and companies on social media. Some of which include DJ Khaled, Snoop Dogg, Rotimi, Romeo Miller, Jaleel Shaw, BE ON IT, LeriQ, Amorphous, Cool - Cool & Dre, Smooth Gio, DDG, OG Parker, Bankrol Hayden, Reel Goats, Facebook Watch, and ATTN. Ikechi aspires to become a world-renowned solo artist as well as a sideman for both mainstream and independent artists.

Tracklist:
01. Ikechi Onyenaka - City Dreams (09:22)
02. Ikechi Onyenaka - City Dreams (09:22)
03. Ikechi Onyenaka - Hardships (07:22)
04. Ikechi Onyenaka - Find Your Light (12:12)
05. Ikechi Onyenaka - Find Your Light (12:12)
06. Ikechi Onyenaka - Incognito (10:19)
07. Ikechi Onyenaka - Nova (16:49)