New album finishes Kidjo's African trilogy

NEW YORK, May 1 (UPI) -- African-born singer Angelique Kidjo said her new album "Djin Djin" is the end of a trilogy about her racial heritage.

"I spent seven years following the roots of slavery to music -- America, Brazil and the Caribbean, Cuba also," said Kidjo, whose previous trilogy entries were 2002's "Black Ivory Soul" and 2004's "Oyaya!"

"I wanted to go back to where all that music came from. I wanted songs to be based on the rhythms of my country (Benin), so a lot of these songs started with the percussion and the chanting. It was intense, extensive work to do."

"Djin Djin" features guest appearances by Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Carlos Santana, Ziggy Marley and others, as well as covers of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," Sade's "Pearls" and the "Lonlon" section of Ravel's "Bolero."