Analog Africa

Global Sounds lovers have been treated to quality labels like Awesome Tapes from Africa, Ostinato Records (!), Glitterbeat, Soundway Records, Sahel Sounds and Analog Africa in recent years. The latter has been active for more than a decade and is run by Tunisian crate digger Samy Ben Redjeb who lives in Germany. He has been serving up the best of the African and South American continents for years now, with much talked about collectors like ‘African Scream Contest’, ‘Afro-Beat Airways’ and 'Diablos Del Ritmo’. For those who want to take a deep dive, Samy's blog is highly recommended in the meantime: http://analogafrica.blogspot.com.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Sekondi Band

He’s sometimes referred to as the ‘James Brown of Ghana’. Not surprisingly, as his signature sound is ‘Simigwa-Do’. That’s how he refers to his own style, which can be best described as full-cream afro-funk or a funky, jazzy and soulful approach to highlife. He also titled his 1975 solo debut ‘Simigwa’ with reason. More than 40 years later, he has something like 30 albums to his name and the re-issues via Strut, Mr. Bongo or Analog Africa are heaped with praise by Pitchfork. He now comes to Europe for the first time with his own super-tight Sekondi Band! Ready for a night full of bold highlife, afro-funk and afro-beat?

Line-up:

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley  – saxophone & vocals

Isaac Krobreni Karikari – keys

Charles Oduro Donkor – bass

Dominic Quarshie – guitar

Peter Mensah Kadesh – drums    

Justice Nii Adjiri Williams – congas/percussion

Fru Assah Atanga – alto saxophone

Isaac Kwaku Ansong – trumpet