View basket “Plenty, Plenty Soul” 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 Nimbus Sextet Dreams Fulfilled Jazz | Acid Jazz | 1LP Released 23rd October 2020 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nimbus Sextet Dreams Fulfilled £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Acid Jazz SKU: AJXLP542 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 23rd October 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Frank Sinatra L.A. Is My Lady Jazz | UMR | 1LP Released 25th October 2024 £26.00 Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders Frank Sinatra L.A. Is My Lady £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: UMR SKU: 6593062 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 25th October 2024 Read More Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ornette Coleman Tomorrow Is The Question! (Acoustic Sounds Series) Jazz | Contemporary Records (Acoustic Sounds Series) | 180g, 1LP Released 15th September 2023 £36.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Ornette Coleman Tomorrow Is The Question! (Acoustic Sounds Series) £36.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Contemporary Records (Acoustic Sounds Series) SKU: 7247455 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th September 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Charles Mingus Mingus Takes Manhattan – The Complete Birdland Dates: 1961 – 1962 Jazz | New Land | 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released 5th January 2024 £129.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Charles Mingus Mingus Takes Manhattan – The Complete Birdland Dates: 1961 – 1962 £129.00 Genre: Jazz Label: New Land SKU: NEWLANDX004 Formats: 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released Date: 5th January 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Milt Jackson Plenty Plenty Soul Jazz | 52nd Street Records | 180g, 1LP Released 20th July 2012 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Milt Jackson Plenty Plenty Soul £17.00 Genre: Jazz Label: 52nd Street Records SKU: LPFSST105 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th July 2012 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Quintet, The Jazz at Massey Hall Jazz | Craft Recordings | 1LP Released 1st December 2023 £26.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Quintet, The Jazz at Massey Hall £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 1810441 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 1st December 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View R+R=NOW Collagically Speaking Jazz | Blue Note | 2LP Released 20th July 2018 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders R+R=NOW Collagically Speaking £25.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 6755433 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 20th July 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Chet Baker Sings Jazz | Le Chant Du Monde | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 22nd May 2018 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chet Baker Sings £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Le Chant Du Monde SKU: 74288485 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 22nd May 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) Jazz | Audio Wave Music | CD Released 17th February 2023 £42.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) £42.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Audio Wave Music SKU: AWMXR0025 Formats: CD Released Date: 17th February 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Billy Harper Antibes ’75 Jazz | Sam Records | 180g, 1LP Released 30th September 2022 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Billy Harper Antibes ’75 £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Sam Records SKU: SRS-2 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 30th September 2022 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 Nimbus Sextet Dreams Fulfilled Jazz | Acid Jazz | 1LP Released 23rd October 2020 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nimbus Sextet Dreams Fulfilled £19.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Acid Jazz SKU: AJXLP542 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 23rd October 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Frank Sinatra L.A. Is My Lady Jazz | UMR | 1LP Released 25th October 2024 £26.00 Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders Frank Sinatra L.A. Is My Lady £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: UMR SKU: 6593062 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 25th October 2024 Read More Pre Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ornette Coleman Tomorrow Is The Question! (Acoustic Sounds Series) Jazz | Contemporary Records (Acoustic Sounds Series) | 180g, 1LP Released 15th September 2023 £36.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Ornette Coleman Tomorrow Is The Question! (Acoustic Sounds Series) £36.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Contemporary Records (Acoustic Sounds Series) SKU: 7247455 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 15th September 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Charles Mingus Mingus Takes Manhattan – The Complete Birdland Dates: 1961 – 1962 Jazz | New Land | 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released 5th January 2024 £129.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Charles Mingus Mingus Takes Manhattan – The Complete Birdland Dates: 1961 – 1962 £129.00 Genre: Jazz Label: New Land SKU: NEWLANDX004 Formats: 180g, 4LP, Box Set Released Date: 5th January 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Milt Jackson Plenty Plenty Soul Jazz | 52nd Street Records | 180g, 1LP Released 20th July 2012 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Milt Jackson Plenty Plenty Soul £17.00 Genre: Jazz Label: 52nd Street Records SKU: LPFSST105 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th July 2012 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Quintet, The Jazz at Massey Hall Jazz | Craft Recordings | 1LP Released 1st December 2023 £26.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Quintet, The Jazz at Massey Hall £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 1810441 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 1st December 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View R+R=NOW Collagically Speaking Jazz | Blue Note | 2LP Released 20th July 2018 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders R+R=NOW Collagically Speaking £25.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 6755433 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 20th July 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Chet Baker Sings Jazz | Le Chant Du Monde | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 22nd May 2018 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chet Baker Sings £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Le Chant Du Monde SKU: 74288485 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 22nd May 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) Jazz | Audio Wave Music | CD Released 17th February 2023 £42.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) £42.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Audio Wave Music SKU: AWMXR0025 Formats: CD Released Date: 17th February 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Billy Harper Antibes ’75 Jazz | Sam Records | 180g, 1LP Released 30th September 2022 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Billy Harper Antibes ’75 £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Sam Records SKU: SRS-2 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 30th September 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders