View basket “Jazz Waltz” 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 Binker And Moses Journey To The Mountain Of Forever Jazz | Gearbox | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 2nd June 2017 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Binker And Moses Journey To The Mountain Of Forever £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Gearbox SKU: GB1537 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 2nd June 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Diana Krall Stepping Out Jazz | Justin Time Records | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 16th May 2016 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Diana Krall Stepping Out £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Justin Time Records SKU: 0068944005017 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 16th May 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Chet Baker Baker’s Holiday (Acoustic Sounds) Jazz | Verve | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 11th October 2024 £35.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chet Baker Baker’s Holiday (Acoustic Sounds) £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 6562732 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 11th October 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers The Big Beat Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 18th January 2017 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers The Big Beat £21.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: LP84029 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 18th January 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nearly New View Product Quick View Wildbirds & Peacedrums The Snake Jazz | Leaf | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 12th March 2024 £12.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Wildbirds & Peacedrums The Snake £12.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Leaf SKU: nn282587 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 12th March 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Clifford Jordan and the Three Sounds Cliff Craft (1957) Jazz | Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 19th July 2024 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Clifford Jordan and the Three Sounds Cliff Craft (1957) £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Blue Note SKU: 5880784 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 19th July 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Yusef Lateef Live at Ronnie Scott’s – 15th January 1966 Jazz | Gearbox | 180g, 1LP Released 23rd April 2021 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Yusef Lateef Live at Ronnie Scott’s – 15th January 1966 £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Gearbox SKU: RSGB1008OBI Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 23rd April 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Lou Donaldson Midnight Creeper (Tone Poet) Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP Released 5th January 2024 £36.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lou Donaldson Midnight Creeper (Tone Poet) £36.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 4526225 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th January 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Frank Chacksfield Plays The Beatles Songbook – Phase 4 Jazz | Decca | 1LP Released 13th March 2017 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Frank Chacksfield Plays The Beatles Songbook – Phase 4 £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca SKU: 4831623 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 13th March 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Necks, The Bleed Jazz | Northern Spy | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 11th October 2024 £24.00 Select options Necks, The Bleed £24.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Northern Spy Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 11th October 2024 Read More Select options 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 Binker And Moses Journey To The Mountain Of Forever Jazz | Gearbox | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 2nd June 2017 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Binker And Moses Journey To The Mountain Of Forever £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Gearbox SKU: GB1537 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 2nd June 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Diana Krall Stepping Out Jazz | Justin Time Records | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 16th May 2016 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Diana Krall Stepping Out £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Justin Time Records SKU: 0068944005017 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 16th May 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Chet Baker Baker’s Holiday (Acoustic Sounds) Jazz | Verve | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 11th October 2024 £35.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chet Baker Baker’s Holiday (Acoustic Sounds) £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 6562732 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 11th October 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers The Big Beat Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 18th January 2017 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers The Big Beat £21.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: LP84029 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 18th January 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
Nearly New View Product Quick View Wildbirds & Peacedrums The Snake Jazz | Leaf | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 12th March 2024 £12.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Wildbirds & Peacedrums The Snake £12.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Leaf SKU: nn282587 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 12th March 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Clifford Jordan and the Three Sounds Cliff Craft (1957) Jazz | Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 19th July 2024 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Clifford Jordan and the Three Sounds Cliff Craft (1957) £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca (UMO) / Jazz / Blue Note SKU: 5880784 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 19th July 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Yusef Lateef Live at Ronnie Scott’s – 15th January 1966 Jazz | Gearbox | 180g, 1LP Released 23rd April 2021 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Yusef Lateef Live at Ronnie Scott’s – 15th January 1966 £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Gearbox SKU: RSGB1008OBI Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 23rd April 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Lou Donaldson Midnight Creeper (Tone Poet) Jazz | Blue Note Tone Poet | 180g, 1LP Released 5th January 2024 £36.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lou Donaldson Midnight Creeper (Tone Poet) £36.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note Tone Poet SKU: 4526225 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th January 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Frank Chacksfield Plays The Beatles Songbook – Phase 4 Jazz | Decca | 1LP Released 13th March 2017 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Frank Chacksfield Plays The Beatles Songbook – Phase 4 £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Decca SKU: 4831623 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 13th March 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Necks, The Bleed Jazz | Northern Spy | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 11th October 2024 £24.00 Select options Necks, The Bleed £24.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Northern Spy Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 11th October 2024 Read More Select options