View basket “Back To Back” 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 Baby Face Willette Face To Face Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 28th June 2019 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Baby Face Willette Face To Face £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 7743434 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 28th June 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Charles Lloyd Quartet Love-in Jazz | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP Released 15th July 2022 £34.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Charles Lloyd Quartet Love-in £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: PPANSD11481 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th July 2022 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Sarah Vaughan Sassy (Acoustic Sounds) Jazz | Decca | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 20th September 2024 £35.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Sarah Vaughan Sassy (Acoustic Sounds) £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca SKU: 6512476 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 20th September 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Cal Tjader Catch The Groove. Live At The Penthouse 1963-1967 Jazz | Elemental | 180g, 3LP Released 24th November 2023 £72.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Cal Tjader Catch The Groove. Live At The Penthouse 1963-1967 £72.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Elemental SKU: DDJD-011 Formats: 180g, 3LP Released Date: 24th November 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Jeff Bernat The Gentleman Approach Jazz | Universal Play 33 1/3 Series | 180g, 1LP Released 2nd June 2014 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jeff Bernat The Gentleman Approach £30.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Universal Play 33 1/3 Series SKU: GMLP001 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 2nd June 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Sonny Rollins Newk’s Time (Classic Vinyl) Jazz | Decca (UMO) [GB] | Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 15th December 2023 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Rollins Newk’s Time (Classic Vinyl) £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) [GB] | Jazz | Blue Note SKU: 5524262 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th December 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Donald Byrd Slow Drag Jazz | Blue Note | Miscellaneous Released 12th August 2009 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Donald Byrd Slow Drag £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: BLP4292 Formats: Miscellaneous Released Date: 12th August 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Miles Davis Decoy Jazz | Get On Down | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 28th October 2022 £32.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis Decoy £32.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Get On Down SKU: GET51472LP Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 28th October 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Bernard Purdie Purdie Good Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 14th April 2023 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bernard Purdie Purdie Good £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 7242063 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 14th April 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View KUU! Lampedusa Lullaby Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 16th November 2018 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders KUU! Lampedusa Lullaby £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACT98571 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 16th November 2018 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 Baby Face Willette Face To Face Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 28th June 2019 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Baby Face Willette Face To Face £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 7743434 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 28th June 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Charles Lloyd Quartet Love-in Jazz | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP Released 15th July 2022 £34.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Charles Lloyd Quartet Love-in £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: PPANSD11481 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th July 2022 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Sarah Vaughan Sassy (Acoustic Sounds) Jazz | Decca | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 20th September 2024 £35.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Sarah Vaughan Sassy (Acoustic Sounds) £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca SKU: 6512476 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 20th September 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Cal Tjader Catch The Groove. Live At The Penthouse 1963-1967 Jazz | Elemental | 180g, 3LP Released 24th November 2023 £72.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Cal Tjader Catch The Groove. Live At The Penthouse 1963-1967 £72.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Elemental SKU: DDJD-011 Formats: 180g, 3LP Released Date: 24th November 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Jeff Bernat The Gentleman Approach Jazz | Universal Play 33 1/3 Series | 180g, 1LP Released 2nd June 2014 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jeff Bernat The Gentleman Approach £30.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Universal Play 33 1/3 Series SKU: GMLP001 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 2nd June 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Sonny Rollins Newk’s Time (Classic Vinyl) Jazz | Decca (UMO) [GB] | Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 15th December 2023 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Rollins Newk’s Time (Classic Vinyl) £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) [GB] | Jazz | Blue Note SKU: 5524262 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th December 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Donald Byrd Slow Drag Jazz | Blue Note | Miscellaneous Released 12th August 2009 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Donald Byrd Slow Drag £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: BLP4292 Formats: Miscellaneous Released Date: 12th August 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Miles Davis Decoy Jazz | Get On Down | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 28th October 2022 £32.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis Decoy £32.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Get On Down SKU: GET51472LP Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 28th October 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Bernard Purdie Purdie Good Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 14th April 2023 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bernard Purdie Purdie Good £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 7242063 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 14th April 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View KUU! Lampedusa Lullaby Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 16th November 2018 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders KUU! Lampedusa Lullaby £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACT98571 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 16th November 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders