View basket “Solo Concerts: Bremen / Lausanne” 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 Graham Collier British Conversations Jazz | My Only Desire Records | 2LP Released 12th November 2021 £27.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Graham Collier British Conversations £27.00 Genre: Jazz Label: My Only Desire Records SKU: MOD004 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 12th November 2021 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Sofiane Pamart NOCHE Classical | PIAS | 1LP Released 20th October 2023 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sofiane Pamart NOCHE £22.00 Genre: Classical Label: PIAS SKU: PIASU450LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 20th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Gil Evans Orchestra Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP Released 20th November 2015 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Gil Evans Orchestra Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: RCACPL10667 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th November 2015 Read More Back 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 Idrees Sulieman | John Coltrane | Kenny Burrell | Tommy Flanagan The Cats Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 8th December 2023 £43.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Idrees Sulieman | John Coltrane | Kenny Burrell | Tommy Flanagan The Cats £43.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: CR614 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 8th December 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Miles Davis & John Coltrane Trane’s Blues Jazz | BMG Records | 1LP Released 19th October 2018 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis & John Coltrane Trane’s Blues £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: BMG Records SKU: 4050538423341 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 19th October 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Sonny Rollins Freedom Weaver: The 1959 European Tour Recording Jazz | Resonance Records | 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released 10th May 2024 £79.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Rollins Freedom Weaver: The 1959 European Tour Recording £79.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Resonance Records SKU: HLP-9065 Formats: 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released Date: 10th May 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Duke Pearson The Phantom Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 30th October 2020 £33.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Duke Pearson The Phantom £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 881136 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 30th October 2020 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Joao Donato A Bad Donato (Verve By Request) Jazz | Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve | 180g, 1LP Released 13th October 2023 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Joao Donato A Bad Donato (Verve By Request) £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve SKU: 5562440 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 13th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Jon Hendricks Fast Livin’ Blues Jazz | ORG | 180g, 2LP, 45rpm Released 5th October 2012 £59.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jon Hendricks Fast Livin’ Blues £59.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ORG SKU: ORG121 Formats: 180g, 2LP, 45rpm Released Date: 5th October 2012 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 Graham Collier British Conversations Jazz | My Only Desire Records | 2LP Released 12th November 2021 £27.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Graham Collier British Conversations £27.00 Genre: Jazz Label: My Only Desire Records SKU: MOD004 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 12th November 2021 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Sofiane Pamart NOCHE Classical | PIAS | 1LP Released 20th October 2023 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sofiane Pamart NOCHE £22.00 Genre: Classical Label: PIAS SKU: PIASU450LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 20th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Gil Evans Orchestra Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP Released 20th November 2015 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Gil Evans Orchestra Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: RCACPL10667 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th November 2015 Read More Back 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 Idrees Sulieman | John Coltrane | Kenny Burrell | Tommy Flanagan The Cats Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 8th December 2023 £43.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Idrees Sulieman | John Coltrane | Kenny Burrell | Tommy Flanagan The Cats £43.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: CR614 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 8th December 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Miles Davis & John Coltrane Trane’s Blues Jazz | BMG Records | 1LP Released 19th October 2018 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miles Davis & John Coltrane Trane’s Blues £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: BMG Records SKU: 4050538423341 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 19th October 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Sonny Rollins Freedom Weaver: The 1959 European Tour Recording Jazz | Resonance Records | 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released 10th May 2024 £79.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Rollins Freedom Weaver: The 1959 European Tour Recording £79.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Resonance Records SKU: HLP-9065 Formats: 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released Date: 10th May 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Duke Pearson The Phantom Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 30th October 2020 £33.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Duke Pearson The Phantom £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 881136 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 30th October 2020 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Joao Donato A Bad Donato (Verve By Request) Jazz | Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve | 180g, 1LP Released 13th October 2023 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Joao Donato A Bad Donato (Verve By Request) £33.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Verve SKU: 5562440 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 13th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Jon Hendricks Fast Livin’ Blues Jazz | ORG | 180g, 2LP, 45rpm Released 5th October 2012 £59.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jon Hendricks Fast Livin’ Blues £59.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ORG SKU: ORG121 Formats: 180g, 2LP, 45rpm Released Date: 5th October 2012 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders