| Jazz |
Summary: On her sixth album, Stay With Me, Nigerian born vocalist Douyé seamlessly blends Great American Songbook classics with three outstanding original compositions. Supported by elegant arrangements from George Cables and the cinematic touch of Mina Choi, she delivers her most mature and compelling jazz recording to date.
Douyé Reviews Stay With Me: George Cables, Mina Choi and a Modern Jazz Masterpiece
A few days ago, an album adorned with a striking red cover arrived at our editorial office. The face on the sleeve was instantly familiar. I have written about her many times before. Douyé, the Nigerian born singer, songwriter, and accomplished jazz interpreter now based in Los Angeles, returns with what is arguably her most complete artistic statement to date: her sixth studio album, Stay With Me.
The project combines ten carefully selected standards from the Great American Songbook with three original compositions co written by Douyé and Rufus Bordal. The standards are arranged and largely co produced by renowned pianist George Cables, whose elegant touch and deep understanding of the jazz tradition provide the album with a cohesive musical identity. The result is not only an album that showcases Douyé’s vocal maturity, but also one that reveals a songwriter who has fully come into her own.
What strikes the listener immediately is the confidence of the artistic vision. From the opening notes of Autumn in New York, Douyé establishes her own distinctive approach. Rather than relying on dramatic flourishes or vocal acrobatics, she focuses on storytelling and atmosphere. There is an almost cinematic quality to her interpretation, drawing the listener into the emotional landscape of each song. The beauty of her voice is undeniable, but equally impressive is the caliber of the musicians surrounding her.
Everything on this album feels meticulously crafted. The recording process itself reflects that attention to detail. The standards, arranged by George Cables, were recorded at the legendary Sear Sound studios in New York, while the original compositions, arranged by pianist and orchestrator Mina Choi, were captured at The Village Studios in Los Angeles. Despite being recorded in two different environments with two different creative teams, the album maintains a remarkable sense of unity.
While George Cables provides the album with its grounding in the classic jazz tradition, arranger and pianist Mina Choi brings a distinctly different sensibility to the original compositions. Her orchestrations add texture, color, and emotional depth without ever overwhelming the intimacy of Douyé’s voice. Choi approaches the songs almost like a film composer, creating subtle atmospheres that expand the emotional landscape of the music. The contrast between the elegant restraint of Cables’ arrangements and the more contemporary, cinematic palette introduced by Choi gives the album an additional layer of sophistication and helps unify its dual identity as both a celebration of jazz standards and a showcase for original songwriting.
The title track, Stay With Me, immediately places Douyé’s original material within the classic jazz language she has embraced throughout her career. In fact, listening to the album from beginning to end, it becomes surprisingly difficult to distinguish the original songs from the timeless standards that surround them. Such seamless integration was no accident.
“I’ve always written songs,” Douyé explains. “Before entering the jazz world, I was singing R&B and classic soul, but this is the first time I’ve included original compositions on one of my jazz albums. I wrote about ten songs and selected three. I wanted to see if they could blend naturally into the rest of the record. The idea was that a listener might hear one and wonder, ‘Is this one of those jazz standards I somehow never knew?’ That was very important to me.”
She has unquestionably succeeded. The originals blend effortlessly into the program and elevate the album’s overall quality rather than interrupting its flow.
The title song, Stay With Me, demonstrates just how deeply Douyé has absorbed the tradition she loves. While clearly informed by classic jazz songwriting, the piece possesses a freshness and sophistication that make it stand comfortably on its own. The melody unfolds naturally, while the harmonic structure offers enough subtle surprises to keep the listener engaged.
The second original composition, Where To Be, reveals another essential aspect of Douyé’s artistry. Beautiful melodies are clearly important to her, but so is rhythm. The song moves with an infectious sense of momentum, reflecting her instinctive understanding of groove and phrasing. The lyrics, both poetic and optimistic, contribute to the album’s warm and uplifting spirit.
The third original piece, Day To Day, may be the most revealing of all. It suggests that Douyé is more than ready for the next stage of her artistic journey. If she can surround herself with musicians of the same caliber heard throughout this album, there is little doubt that she could successfully record an entire project consisting solely of her own compositions. Her command of the language of jazz is now complete enough to allow her personality to emerge without constraint.
Douyé had never worked with George Cables before this project, yet she trusted his musical instincts from the outset. That confidence proved entirely justified. Cables arranged and co produced much of the album, performed piano on ten tracks, helped assemble an exceptional cast of New York musicians, and most importantly, understood when to step back and allow the songs the room they needed to breathe. His touch is present throughout, never intrusive, always serving the music.
Equally noteworthy is the album’s exceptional sound quality. Recorded between two of America’s most respected studios, Sear Sound in New York and The Village Studios in Los Angeles, Stay With Me possesses a warmth and clarity that immediately command attention. Every instrument occupies its own space within the mix, allowing listeners to appreciate the subtle interactions between voice, piano, bass, drums, and orchestral textures. The recording captures not only the technical precision of the performances but also their emotional nuance. Audiophiles will appreciate the natural acoustic balance, while casual listeners will simply be drawn into an immersive listening experience that feels intimate, detailed, and remarkably alive.
Douyé’s work has earned the respect of some of the most distinguished figures in jazz. Over the years she has built an impressive discography that transcends both eras and geographical boundaries, including acclaimed releases such as Daddy Said So, Quatro: Bossa Nova Deluxe, and The Golden Sékéré. Her dedication to the art form has led her to collaborate with celebrated artists including Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and Buster Williams.
For listeners who have yet to discover Douyé, Stay With Me is an ideal introduction. The album finds her moving beyond the role of faithful interpreter and embracing a more personal artistic voice. The technical excellence remains, but it is now accompanied by a deeper sense of freedom, confidence, and individuality.
What ultimately makes Stay With Me so compelling is its balance between reverence and self-expression. Douyé honors the tradition without becoming constrained by it, demonstrating that mastery is not merely about preserving a musical language but about finding new ways to speak through it. With Stay With Me, Douyé does more than revisit the jazz tradition. She quietly expands it, proving that authenticity and elegance remain among the most powerful forces in contemporary jazz.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, June 26th, 2026
::::::::::::::::::::::::
Album Credits:
Artist: Douyé
Album title: Stay With Me
Album Song List:
1. Autumn in New York
2. It’s A Lovely Day
3. Love You Madly
4. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
5. Days of Wine And Roses
6. Stay With Me
7. I’ve Never Been In Love Before
8. Give Me That Simple Life
9. In My Solitude
10. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
11. Where To Be
12. You Go To My Head
13. Day To Day
1. Autumn in New York
Composer(s):Vernon Duke
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Saxophone: Craig Handy
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
2. It’s A Lovely Day
Composer(s): Irving Berlin
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Saxophone: Craig Handy
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
3. Love You Madly
Composer(s): Duke Ellington
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
4. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
Composer(s): Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
5. Days of Wine And Roses
Composer(s): Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
6. Stay With Me
Composer(s): Douyé Youduba, Rufus Bordal
Arranger: Mina Choi
Producer(s): Mina Choi. Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: Mina Choi
Bass: Edwin Livingston
Drums: Clayton Cameron
Saxophone: Barclay Moffitt
Trumpet: Kye Palmer
Recording Engineer: Karl Wingate
Assistant Engineer: Emily Paalman
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen Mastering, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA
7. I’ve Never Been In Love Before
Composer(s): Frank Loesser
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
8. Give Me The Simple Life
Composer(s): Rube Bloom and Harry Ruby
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
9. In My Solitude
Composer(s): Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mill
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Trumpet: Joe Magnarelli
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
10. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Composer(s): Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Trumpet: John Bailey
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
11. Where To Be
Composer(s): Douyé Youduba, Rufus Bordal
Arranger: Douyé, Mina Choi
Producer(s): Mina Choi, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: Mina Choi
Bass: Edwin Livingston
Drums: Clayton Cameron
Saxophone: Barclay Moffitt
Trumpet: Kye Palmer
Recording Engineer: Karl Wingate
Assistant Engineer: Emily Paalman
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen Mastering, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA
12. You Go To My Head
Composer(s): J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Arranger: George Cables
Producer(s): George Cables, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: George Cables
Bass: Sean Conly
Drums: Jerome Jennings
Trumpet: John Bailey
Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco
Assistant Engineer: Teddy McGraw
Assistant Engineer: Maximilian Troppe
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
13. Day To Day
Composer(s): Douyé Youduba, Rufus Bordal
Arranger: Mina Choi
Producer(s): Mina Choi, Douyé Youduba
Vocal: Douyé
Piano: Mina Choi
Bass: Edwin Livingston
Drums: Clayton Cameron
Saxophone: Barclay Moffitt
Recording Engineer: Karl Wingate
Assistant Engineer: Emily Paalman
Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Mastering: Chris Allen Mastering, NY, NY
Recording Studio(s): The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Album Production Team:
Executive Producer: Douyé Youduba
Album Mix Engineer: Chris Allen
Album Mastered: Chris Allen
Album Art Direction & Layout: Alex Kalatschinow
Album Wardrome & Direction: Douyé Youduba
Makeup Artist: Suna Myles
Photography: Alena Sazonova
Manufacturing: Digital Force
Album Recording Studio(s)
Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY
The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Album Recording Engineers:
Steven Sacco, Teddy McGraw, Maximilian Troppe ( Sear Sound Recording Studios, NY, NY)
Karl Wingate, Emily Paalman ( The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA)