View basket “Mysterious Traveller” 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 Corrie Dick Sun Swells Jazz | Ubuntu Music | 1LP Released 6th October 2023 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Corrie Dick Sun Swells £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Ubuntu Music SKU: UBU0108LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 6th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Diana Krall This Dream Of You Jazz | Verve | 1LP Released 25th September 2020 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Diana Krall This Dream Of You £30.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 0744541 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 25th September 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Robby Krieger The Ritual Begins At Sundown Jazz | The Players Club | 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 14th August 2020 £18.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Robby Krieger The Ritual Begins At Sundown £18.00 Genre: Jazz Label: The Players Club SKU: 0810020501117 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 14th August 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Dearest Sister Collective Heart Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 18th November 2022 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dearest Sister Collective Heart £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9953-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 18th November 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View José James Yesterday I Had The Blues Jazz | Universal/Blue Note | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 13th July 2015 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders José James Yesterday I Had The Blues £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Universal/Blue Note SKU: 659388 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 13th July 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Coltrane Coltrane Jazz Jazz | Rhino | 180g, 1LP Released 18th June 2010 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Coltrane Coltrane Jazz £17.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Rhino SKU: 8122798051 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 18th June 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Brad Mehldau Live In Tokyo Jazz | Nonesuch | 180g, 3LP Released 13th September 2019 £50.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Brad Mehldau Live In Tokyo £50.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Nonesuch SKU: 0075597924688 Formats: 180g, 3LP Released Date: 13th September 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View George Benson Body Talk Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 28th November 2014 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders George Benson Body Talk £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: CTI6033 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 28th November 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Molly Burch Please Be Mine Jazz | Captured Tracks | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 13th February 2017 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Molly Burch Please Be Mine £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Captured Tracks SKU: CT253LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 13th February 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Blue Mitchell Blue Soul Jazz | Jazz Workshop | 180g, 1LP Released 20th July 2012 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Blue Mitchell Blue Soul £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Jazz Workshop SKU: LPJW029 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th July 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 Corrie Dick Sun Swells Jazz | Ubuntu Music | 1LP Released 6th October 2023 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Corrie Dick Sun Swells £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Ubuntu Music SKU: UBU0108LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 6th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Diana Krall This Dream Of You Jazz | Verve | 1LP Released 25th September 2020 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Diana Krall This Dream Of You £30.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 0744541 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 25th September 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Robby Krieger The Ritual Begins At Sundown Jazz | The Players Club | 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 14th August 2020 £18.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Robby Krieger The Ritual Begins At Sundown £18.00 Genre: Jazz Label: The Players Club SKU: 0810020501117 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 14th August 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Dearest Sister Collective Heart Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 18th November 2022 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dearest Sister Collective Heart £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9953-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 18th November 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View José James Yesterday I Had The Blues Jazz | Universal/Blue Note | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 13th July 2015 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders José James Yesterday I Had The Blues £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Universal/Blue Note SKU: 659388 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 13th July 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Coltrane Coltrane Jazz Jazz | Rhino | 180g, 1LP Released 18th June 2010 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Coltrane Coltrane Jazz £17.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Rhino SKU: 8122798051 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 18th June 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Brad Mehldau Live In Tokyo Jazz | Nonesuch | 180g, 3LP Released 13th September 2019 £50.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Brad Mehldau Live In Tokyo £50.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Nonesuch SKU: 0075597924688 Formats: 180g, 3LP Released Date: 13th September 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View George Benson Body Talk Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 28th November 2014 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders George Benson Body Talk £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: CTI6033 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 28th November 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Molly Burch Please Be Mine Jazz | Captured Tracks | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 13th February 2017 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Molly Burch Please Be Mine £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Captured Tracks SKU: CT253LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 13th February 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Blue Mitchell Blue Soul Jazz | Jazz Workshop | 180g, 1LP Released 20th July 2012 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Blue Mitchell Blue Soul £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Jazz Workshop SKU: LPJW029 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th July 2012 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders