Ghanaian trumpeter Peter Somuah presents Highlife: a unique and groovy sound with soulful melody lines and a strong emphasis on rhythm.

The Highlife album is an ode to the Ghanaian tradition of highlife music,
and features legends of the genre. Highlife has a unique sound with a
distinctive finger-picking style of guitar-playing, minimalistic yet groovy bass
lines, percussive keyboard patterns, soulful melody lines from the brass
section, and much emphasis on rhythm. The opening song of the album,
We Give Thanks, features Pat Thomas, also known as 'the Golden Voice
of Africa'. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, the first musician worldwide to incorporate
rap into highlife music, appears on Chop Chop. And 93-year old Koo
Nimo, a leading highlife musician, and the first Ghanaian to have their
music put on a CD, narrates some of the origins of the highlife genre.
On the ten-track album Peter Somuah, who grew up playing in highlife
bands, mixes elements of the highlife genre with jazz, creating what he
calls 'highlife jazz'. The album emulates the vintage sound of the highlife
era, but with a modern touch. It also connects Ghana's older and younger
generations of musicians. Alongside the members of his Rotterdam-based
band, Somuah invited young Ghanaian musicians on to the album. Singer
Lamisi Akuka features on African Continent and brings soulful musical
influences from the northern part of Ghana, while Bright Osei Baffour
provides traditional highlife riffs on the guitar and Thomas Botchway adds
grooves on the talking drum.

More than on his previous two albums, Somuah also reflects on the
political context he grew up in. In Mental Slavery, Somuah sings of the
remaining psychological impact of colonialism. Indeed, the very name of
the highlife genre refers to the fact that it was originally mostly the colonial
elite in Ghana (the 'high life') who got to enjoy the music. And Chop
Chop, which features artist Ambolley, takes a dig at the greed of political
leaders.

The album conveys heartfelt messages about social justice, healing and
gratitude but never fails to encourage the listener to swing along.

Media

Track Listing

• The Rhythm
• We Give Thanks
• Bruce Road
• Drumbeat
• Chop Chop
• Conqueror
• Mental Slavery
• Re-imagined
• African Continent
• Jamestown

Additional Details

Label: ACT

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 44:48 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/08/24

UPC: 614427800121