View basket “Spirits Known And Unknown” has been added to your basket. Highlife Peter Somuah SKU: ACTLP8001-1 Barcode: 0614427800114 20.00 £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT Released Date: 8th November 2024 Buying Format: 1LP Forthcoming Pre Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info The ‘Highlife’ album is an ode to the Ghanaian tradition of highlife music and features the legends of the genre. Highlife has a unique sound, with a distinctive finger-picking style of playing on the guitar, minimalistic yet groovy bass lines, percussive keyboard patterns, soulful melody lines by 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, who was a leading highlife musician and the first Ghanaian to have their music be 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 from the highlife era, with a modern touch. It also connects Ghana’s older and younger generations of musicians. Besides the members of his Rotterdam-based band, Somuah invited young Ghanaian musicians onto 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 (‘high life’) that got to enjoy the music. And in ‘Chop Chop’, featuring artist Ambolley takes a dig at greedy political leaders. The album conveys heartfelt messages of social justice, healing and gratitude but never fails to encourage the listener to swing along. Artist Peter Somuah Genre Jazz Label ACT Buying Options 1LP Format 1LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings The Rhythm (Feat. Koo Nimo) We Give Thanks (Feat. Pat Thomas) Bruce Road Drumbeat Chop Chop (Feat. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley) Conqueror Mental Slavery Re-imagined African Continent (Feat. Lamisi Akuka) Jamestown Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from Peter Somuah and more from Jazz View Product Quick View Peter Somuah Letter to the Universe Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 2nd June 2023 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Peter Somuah Letter to the Universe £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9969-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd June 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Sonny Red Out Of The Blue Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 1st April 2022 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Red Out Of The Blue £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 3538189 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 1st April 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Various - Volume Two Freedom Rhythm and Sound (1963-82) Jazz | Soul Jazz | 1LP Released 17th December 2009 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various - Volume Two Freedom Rhythm and Sound (1963-82) £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Soul Jazz SKU: SJRLP2192 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 17th December 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Miles Davis Music From And Inspired By Birth Of The Cool Jazz | Columbia | 2LP Released 13th March 2020 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis Music From And Inspired By Birth Of The Cool £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Columbia SKU: 19439723701 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 13th March 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Various Artists The Jazz Album Jazz | UMC | 2LP Released 3rd June 2022 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists The Jazz Album £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: UMC SKU: 5396142 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 3rd June 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Nina Simone Broadways, Blues, Ballads Jazz | Back To Black | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 11th July 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nina Simone Broadways, Blues, Ballads £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Back To Black SKU: 5360569 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 11th July 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Herbie Hancock The New Standard Jazz | Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve | 180g, 2LP Released 11th August 2023 £50.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Herbie Hancock The New Standard £50.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve SKU: 5540622 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 11th August 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Various Artists Blue Break Beats Vol. 3 Jazz | Blue Note | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released 27th January 2017 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists Blue Break Beats Vol. 3 £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 5370940 Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 27th January 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Baden Powell Solitude On Guitar Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP Released 9th May 2011 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Baden Powell Solitude On Guitar £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: C32441 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 9th May 2011 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Miles Davis A Tribute To Jack Johnson Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 9th June 2017 £27.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis A Tribute To Jack Johnson £27.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1868 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 9th June 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Hank Mobley The Flip Jazz | Blue Note | 1LP Released 2nd March 2011 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Hank Mobley The Flip £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: BST84329 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd March 2011 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in Jazz Start again
View Product Quick View Peter Somuah Letter to the Universe Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 2nd June 2023 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Peter Somuah Letter to the Universe £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9969-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd June 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Sonny Red Out Of The Blue Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 1st April 2022 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Red Out Of The Blue £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 3538189 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 1st April 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Various - Volume Two Freedom Rhythm and Sound (1963-82) Jazz | Soul Jazz | 1LP Released 17th December 2009 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various - Volume Two Freedom Rhythm and Sound (1963-82) £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Soul Jazz SKU: SJRLP2192 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 17th December 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Miles Davis Music From And Inspired By Birth Of The Cool Jazz | Columbia | 2LP Released 13th March 2020 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis Music From And Inspired By Birth Of The Cool £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Columbia SKU: 19439723701 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 13th March 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Various Artists The Jazz Album Jazz | UMC | 2LP Released 3rd June 2022 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists The Jazz Album £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: UMC SKU: 5396142 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 3rd June 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Nina Simone Broadways, Blues, Ballads Jazz | Back To Black | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 11th July 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nina Simone Broadways, Blues, Ballads £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Back To Black SKU: 5360569 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 11th July 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Herbie Hancock The New Standard Jazz | Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve | 180g, 2LP Released 11th August 2023 £50.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Herbie Hancock The New Standard £50.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve SKU: 5540622 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 11th August 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Various Artists Blue Break Beats Vol. 3 Jazz | Blue Note | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released 27th January 2017 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists Blue Break Beats Vol. 3 £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 5370940 Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 27th January 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Baden Powell Solitude On Guitar Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP Released 9th May 2011 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Baden Powell Solitude On Guitar £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: C32441 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 9th May 2011 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Miles Davis A Tribute To Jack Johnson Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 9th June 2017 £27.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis A Tribute To Jack Johnson £27.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1868 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 9th June 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Hank Mobley The Flip Jazz | Blue Note | 1LP Released 2nd March 2011 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Hank Mobley The Flip £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: BST84329 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd March 2011 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders