View basket “The Art Of Tea” 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 Brad Mehldau Finding Gabriel Jazz | Nonesuch | 2LP Released 17th May 2019 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Brad Mehldau Finding Gabriel £28.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Nonesuch SKU: 0075597926361 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 17th May 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Andre 3000 New Blue Sun Jazz | Epic | 3LP Released 29th March 2024 £86.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Andre 3000 New Blue Sun £86.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Epic SKU: 19658814751 Formats: 3LP Released Date: 29th March 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Concertgebouw 1961 (The Lost Recordings) Jazz | The Lost Recordings | 180g, 2LP Released 11th September 2023 £TBC Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Concertgebouw 1961 (The Lost Recordings) £TBC Genre: Jazz Label: The Lost Recordings SKU: TLR 1604023 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 11th September 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Dave Brubeck Quartet Jazz Goes To College Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 29th July 2016 £27.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dave Brubeck Quartet Jazz Goes To College £27.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1520 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th July 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Jamie Cullum Taller Jazz | Island | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 7th June 2019 £18.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jamie Cullum Taller £18.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Island SKU: 7768697 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th June 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Anthony Joseph The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for their Lives Jazz | Heavenly Sweetness | 1LP Released 8th October 2021 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Anthony Joseph The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for their Lives £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Heavenly Sweetness SKU: HS218VL Formats: 1LP Released Date: 8th October 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Drum Suite Jazz | Impex Records | 180g, 1LP Released 15th July 2014 £45.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Drum Suite £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impex Records SKU: IMXLP6019 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th July 2014 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Ray Charles The Genius Of Ray Charles (Atlantic 75 Series) (SACD) Jazz | Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series) | SACD Released 25th December 2025 £45.00 Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders Ray Charles The Genius Of Ray Charles (Atlantic 75 Series) (SACD) £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series) SKU: CAPA 066 SA Formats: SACD Released Date: 25th December 2025 Read More Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echos Visions Of A New World Jazz | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP Released 20th February 2020 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echos Visions Of A New World £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: PPAN BDL1-1196 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th February 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Eric Dolphy Out To Lunch Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 24th September 2021 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Eric Dolphy Out To Lunch £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 3587502 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 24th September 2021 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 Brad Mehldau Finding Gabriel Jazz | Nonesuch | 2LP Released 17th May 2019 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Brad Mehldau Finding Gabriel £28.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Nonesuch SKU: 0075597926361 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 17th May 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Andre 3000 New Blue Sun Jazz | Epic | 3LP Released 29th March 2024 £86.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Andre 3000 New Blue Sun £86.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Epic SKU: 19658814751 Formats: 3LP Released Date: 29th March 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Concertgebouw 1961 (The Lost Recordings) Jazz | The Lost Recordings | 180g, 2LP Released 11th September 2023 £TBC Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Concertgebouw 1961 (The Lost Recordings) £TBC Genre: Jazz Label: The Lost Recordings SKU: TLR 1604023 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 11th September 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Dave Brubeck Quartet Jazz Goes To College Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 29th July 2016 £27.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dave Brubeck Quartet Jazz Goes To College £27.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1520 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th July 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Jamie Cullum Taller Jazz | Island | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 7th June 2019 £18.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jamie Cullum Taller £18.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Island SKU: 7768697 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th June 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Anthony Joseph The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for their Lives Jazz | Heavenly Sweetness | 1LP Released 8th October 2021 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Anthony Joseph The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for their Lives £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Heavenly Sweetness SKU: HS218VL Formats: 1LP Released Date: 8th October 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Drum Suite Jazz | Impex Records | 180g, 1LP Released 15th July 2014 £45.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Drum Suite £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impex Records SKU: IMXLP6019 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th July 2014 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Ray Charles The Genius Of Ray Charles (Atlantic 75 Series) (SACD) Jazz | Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series) | SACD Released 25th December 2025 £45.00 Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders Ray Charles The Genius Of Ray Charles (Atlantic 75 Series) (SACD) £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series) SKU: CAPA 066 SA Formats: SACD Released Date: 25th December 2025 Read More Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echos Visions Of A New World Jazz | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP Released 20th February 2020 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echos Visions Of A New World £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: PPAN BDL1-1196 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th February 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Eric Dolphy Out To Lunch Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 24th September 2021 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Eric Dolphy Out To Lunch £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 3587502 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 24th September 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders