Afrijazz
Afrijazz
Providence, RI
| AfrijazziTunes Artist's PageiTunes Album Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Song Title | Time | Price | |
| 1. | Greetings | 01:48 | $0.99 |
| 2. | Oprenten #6 | 05:03 | $0.99 |
| 3. | Message | 04:10 | $0.99 |
| 4. | Kid's - Konko-da | 09:41 | $0.99 |
| 5. | Akampa | 04:51 | $0.99 |
| 6. | 'Round Midnight | 05:17 | $0.99 |
| 7. | Ghana Gumbo | 07:41 | $0.99 |
| 8. | Fine Fine Baby | 05:14 | $0.99 |
| 9. | Worship | 06:08 | $0.99 |
| 10. | Thank You | 07:40 | $0.99 |
The record is called Afri-jazz. The sound is otherworldly, the rhythms- Africa with a 21st century jazz state of mind. This world belongs to master drummer Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng (aka KKO). He started out in the Royal Court of Ghana as a drummer, came to the U.S., and has since played with different sorts of kings; guys like Max Roach, Roy Hargrove and Anthony Braxton.
The sounds found on this little plastic disc will take you back to a different time; one that never existed! Imagine Kenny Clarke born in the heart of Africa and you begin to get the picture. Did we mention the ultra groovy cover of "Round Midnight" for bass clarinet and tom toms? This is a terrific record; truly striking.
ALTERNATIVE PRESS
This music says something profound about homo sapiens’ rhythmic ingenuity and the enduring power of the drum (even our earliest ancestors had the funk, apparently).
ROOTSWORLD
One of a kind, this one, a recording that unfolds one well-paced beat at a time, the sturdy percussive foundation of an enduring piece of work. - Michael Stone
AMAZON
Kwaku (also known as Martin) is one of my teachers so there certainly is a lot I can say about this music. I first discovered this album when he played excerpts from it for the class. I thought right away, wow! I bet many people would be surprised to know that jazz actually comes from African! This guy masterfully honors his African heritage in a way that others would find it hard to do. Pick this album up! (Warning!!! Side effects may include but are not limited to: feeling the beat, a sudden urge to dance, whooping & hollering, a feeling that says that was the best [...] you ever spent, & so on.) MUSICIANS: KKO-african percussion, voice, drums with Wes Brown-acoustic upright bass; Jay Hoggard-xylophone, voice; Will Lowe-trombone; Ho Bynum-trumpet, flugel; Paul Austerlitz-bass clarinet; Mike Veal-drums; Dominic Kanza-guitar; Ismail Lawal-drums, percussion; Gloria Koomson, Jeff Penn-percussion; Scott Kessel, Rani Arbo-voice.
