Locked down in Dakar, his regular gig on pause for the moment, and this autumn set to be based in Birmingham, saxophonist Alain Oyono is all ready to make his mark as a leader and is to debut with The Beginning.

Oyono, who has lived in Dakar since 2013 when he moved from his homeland of Cameroon and where he was heavily influenced by the late great Manu Dibango, has been working long-term with the icon of African music Youssou n'Dour as a member of his band Le Super Étoile de Dakar touring the world and making records including History, playing the Proms in London in 2018.

Now's the time on The Beginning, a gorgeous Grover Washington Jr-like atmosphere evoked in the Oyono-composed ballad, a quality melody that you could easily imagine belonging on a Luther Vandross record. SG

Alain Oyono, photo: YouTube