Highlife Peter Somuah

• 1 The Rhythm 01:03
• 2 We Give Thanks 04:19
• 3 Bruce Road 05:18
• 4 Drumbeat 04:29
• 5 Chop Chop 04:30
• 6 Conqueror 04:03
• 7 Mental Slavery 04:59
• 8 Re-Imagined 05:49
• 9 African Continent 04:29
• 10 Jamestown 05:29
• Total Runtime 44:28

Info for Highlife

"Highlife" takes listeners on a vibrant journey through the rich musical heritage of Peter Somuah’s Ghanaian roots and the innovative world of jazz. Drawing from his early years playing highlife music in Accra, and blending it with influences from legends like Miles Davis, Somuah creates a unique sound that bridges generations. The album showcases a rich tapestry of instruments, from highlife’s signature rhythmic guitars and percussion to Somuah’s radiant trumpet, weaving a captivating dialogue between highlife and modern jazz. Recorded with vintage analogue equipment, Highlife captures the warmth and grit of 1960s highlife, while propelling the genre into new territories. This album is not only a celebration of Ghana’s musical legacy but also a statement of pride, addressing themes of colonialism and self-empowerment, inviting listeners to reflect and dance to the rhythms of both history and the future of jazz.

Peter Somuah, trumpet, vocals, cowbell
Jesse Schilderink, tenor saxophone
Anton de Bruin, keyboard, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer
Jens Meijer, drums
Danny Rombout, congas, shekere
Marijn van de Ven, double & electric bass
Lamisi Akuka, vocals
Thomas Botchway, talking drum & shekere (track 9)
Pat Thomas, vocals
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, vocals
Bright Osei Baffour, guitar (tracks 2, 5, 9)

Peter Somuah
is a gifted jazz trumpeter who learned to play by listening endlessly to his trumpet heroes Miles Davis and Roy Hargrove. Somuah stands out with his warm and melancholic sound, as well as the rhythmic prowess reflecting his upbringing surrounded by the music styles native to West Africa. He touches his audiences and makes them groove. In 2021 Somuah won the Erasmus Jazz award for young jazz talent, and in 2022 he won the prestigious Edison Jazz Award with his debut album Outer Space. In his compositions, Somuah explores the boundaries between jazz, funk and traditional Ghanaian music, sprinkled with a hint of electronic music. He has performed his music at many stages already, including at the 2022 North Sea Jazz Festival.

Booklet for Highlife