View basket “Journey To The Urge Within” 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 Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong The Definitive Collection Jazz | Not Bad Records | 180g, 4LP Released 15th January 2020 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong The Definitive Collection £24.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Not Bad Records SKU: NOT4LP255 Formats: 180g, 4LP Released Date: 15th January 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Szun Waves Earth Patterns Jazz | The Leaf Label | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 19th August 2022 £19.00 - £21.00 Select options Szun Waves Earth Patterns £19.00 - £21.00 Genre: Jazz Label: The Leaf Label Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 19th August 2022 Read More Select options View Product Quick View Melt Yourself Down 100% YES! Jazz | Decca | 1LP Released 3rd July 2020 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Melt Yourself Down 100% YES! £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca SKU: 800821 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 3rd July 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View McCoy Tyner Inception Jazz | Impulse | 1LP Released 23rd August 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders McCoy Tyner Inception £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impulse SKU: 7757390 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 23rd August 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Art Blakey And His Jazz Messengers Chippin’ In Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 25th March 2022 £31.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey And His Jazz Messengers Chippin’ In £31.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP2951 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 25th March 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Bud Shank Barefoot Adventure (SACD) Jazz | Impex Records | SACD Released 22nd December 2023 £39.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Bud Shank Barefoot Adventure (SACD) £39.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impex Records SKU: IMXSA8330 Formats: SACD Released Date: 22nd December 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Sonny Rollins Way Out West Jazz | Concord Jazz | 180g, 2LP Released 20th April 2018 £93.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Rollins Way Out West £93.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Concord Jazz SKU: 7202912 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 20th April 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View David Holland Quartet Conference Of the Birds Jazz | ECM | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 7th April 2017 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders David Holland Quartet Conference Of the Birds £21.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ECM SKU: 4774624 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th April 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Bill Laurance & Michel League Where You Wish You Were Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 27th January 2023 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bill Laurance & Michel League Where You Wish You Were £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9961-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Don Ewell Quartet Yellow Dog Blues and Other Favorites Jazz | Analogue Productions | 1LP, 200g Released 13th May 2015 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Don Ewell Quartet Yellow Dog Blues and Other Favorites £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: APLP019HQ Formats: 1LP, 200g Released Date: 13th May 2015 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 Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong The Definitive Collection Jazz | Not Bad Records | 180g, 4LP Released 15th January 2020 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong The Definitive Collection £24.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Not Bad Records SKU: NOT4LP255 Formats: 180g, 4LP Released Date: 15th January 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Szun Waves Earth Patterns Jazz | The Leaf Label | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 19th August 2022 £19.00 - £21.00 Select options Szun Waves Earth Patterns £19.00 - £21.00 Genre: Jazz Label: The Leaf Label Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 19th August 2022 Read More Select options
View Product Quick View Melt Yourself Down 100% YES! Jazz | Decca | 1LP Released 3rd July 2020 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Melt Yourself Down 100% YES! £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca SKU: 800821 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 3rd July 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View McCoy Tyner Inception Jazz | Impulse | 1LP Released 23rd August 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders McCoy Tyner Inception £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impulse SKU: 7757390 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 23rd August 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Art Blakey And His Jazz Messengers Chippin’ In Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 25th March 2022 £31.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey And His Jazz Messengers Chippin’ In £31.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP2951 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 25th March 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Bud Shank Barefoot Adventure (SACD) Jazz | Impex Records | SACD Released 22nd December 2023 £39.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Bud Shank Barefoot Adventure (SACD) £39.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impex Records SKU: IMXSA8330 Formats: SACD Released Date: 22nd December 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Sonny Rollins Way Out West Jazz | Concord Jazz | 180g, 2LP Released 20th April 2018 £93.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sonny Rollins Way Out West £93.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Concord Jazz SKU: 7202912 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 20th April 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View David Holland Quartet Conference Of the Birds Jazz | ECM | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 7th April 2017 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders David Holland Quartet Conference Of the Birds £21.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ECM SKU: 4774624 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th April 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Bill Laurance & Michel League Where You Wish You Were Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 27th January 2023 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bill Laurance & Michel League Where You Wish You Were £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9961-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Don Ewell Quartet Yellow Dog Blues and Other Favorites Jazz | Analogue Productions | 1LP, 200g Released 13th May 2015 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Don Ewell Quartet Yellow Dog Blues and Other Favorites £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: APLP019HQ Formats: 1LP, 200g Released Date: 13th May 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders