View basket “Genius of Modern Music, Volume One (Classic Vinyl Series)” 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 Nearly New View Product Quick View Esquivel Music From A Sparkling Planet Exotica / Easy Listening | Barnone | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 3rd April 2024 £20.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Esquivel Music From A Sparkling Planet £20.00 Genre: Exotica / Easy Listening Label: Barnone SKU: nn283838 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 3rd April 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Portico Quartet Isla Jazz | Real World | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 12th November 2009 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Portico Quartet Isla £16.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Real World SKU: LPRW174 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 12th November 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Marius Neset Pinball Jazz | ACT | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 6th February 2015 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Marius Neset Pinball £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACT90321 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 6th February 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Various Artists / Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner Jazz | Acid Jazz | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 21st March 2018 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists / Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Acid Jazz SKU: AJX2LP436 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 21st March 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Miles Davis Someday My Prince Will Come Jazz | Analogue Productions | 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released 18th November 2010 £55.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis Someday My Prince Will Come £55.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: APJ 845645 Formats: 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 18th November 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nearly New View Product Quick View Ronnie Foster Two Headed Freap (Scorpio Pressing) Jazz | Blue Note | 1LP Released 26th October 2022 £20.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Ronnie Foster Two Headed Freap (Scorpio Pressing) £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: nn252247 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 26th October 2022 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Billie Holiday Lady Sings The Blues Jazz | Verve | 180g, 1LP Released 21st March 2016 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Billie Holiday Lady Sings The Blues £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 5345887 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 21st March 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ahmad Jamal Trio Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing (Mono) Jazz | Analogue Productions | 180g, 1LP Released 15th May 2020 £45.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ahmad Jamal Trio Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing (Mono) £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: AAPJ128 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th May 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You (Acoustic Sounds Series) Jazz | Philips | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 13th November 2020 £45.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You (Acoustic Sounds Series) £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Philips SKU: 0727465 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 13th November 2020 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Julia Biel Black and White, Vol.1 Jazz | rokit | 1LP Released 28th February 2020 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Julia Biel Black and White, Vol.1 £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: rokit SKU: RKT060LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 28th February 2020 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
Nearly New View Product Quick View Esquivel Music From A Sparkling Planet Exotica / Easy Listening | Barnone | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 3rd April 2024 £20.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Esquivel Music From A Sparkling Planet £20.00 Genre: Exotica / Easy Listening Label: Barnone SKU: nn283838 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 3rd April 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Portico Quartet Isla Jazz | Real World | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 12th November 2009 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Portico Quartet Isla £16.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Real World SKU: LPRW174 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 12th November 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Marius Neset Pinball Jazz | ACT | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 6th February 2015 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Marius Neset Pinball £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACT90321 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 6th February 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Various Artists / Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner Jazz | Acid Jazz | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 21st March 2018 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists / Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Acid Jazz SKU: AJX2LP436 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 21st March 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Miles Davis Someday My Prince Will Come Jazz | Analogue Productions | 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released 18th November 2010 £55.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis Someday My Prince Will Come £55.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: APJ 845645 Formats: 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 18th November 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
Nearly New View Product Quick View Ronnie Foster Two Headed Freap (Scorpio Pressing) Jazz | Blue Note | 1LP Released 26th October 2022 £20.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Ronnie Foster Two Headed Freap (Scorpio Pressing) £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: nn252247 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 26th October 2022 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Billie Holiday Lady Sings The Blues Jazz | Verve | 180g, 1LP Released 21st March 2016 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Billie Holiday Lady Sings The Blues £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 5345887 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 21st March 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ahmad Jamal Trio Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing (Mono) Jazz | Analogue Productions | 180g, 1LP Released 15th May 2020 £45.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ahmad Jamal Trio Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing (Mono) £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: AAPJ128 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th May 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You (Acoustic Sounds Series) Jazz | Philips | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 13th November 2020 £45.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You (Acoustic Sounds Series) £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Philips SKU: 0727465 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 13th November 2020 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Julia Biel Black and White, Vol.1 Jazz | rokit | 1LP Released 28th February 2020 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Julia Biel Black and White, Vol.1 £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: rokit SKU: RKT060LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 28th February 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders