Florence Adooni’s Astonishing ‘A.O.E.I.U.’ Is Electrifying
Florence Adooni has effortless, down-to-earth charisma from start to finish, from her most lighthearted moments to her most earnest.
highlife
Legendary Ebo Taylor Creates a ‘Jazz Is Dead’ Album
In this ‘Jazz Is Dead’ celebration of highlife legend, Ebo Taylor, a genuinely appreciative team revels in everything he’s done in the past six decades.
‘Ghana Special 2’ Chronicles an Innovative Chapter in Highlife History
Ghana Special 2 possesses a wide range of styles. The 18 substantial tracks are packed with synths, horns, and driving beats.
Ibibio Sound Machine Elevate Their Sound on ‘Pull the Rope’
Ibibio Sound Machine have gone from exciting transcontinental party upstarts to a soulful, sophisticated phenomenon. Pull the Rope is a refreshing new chapter.
Jembaa Groove’s Jazzy Highlife Is Beautiful on ‘Ye Ankasa’
Berlin’s Jembaa Groove tap into the sonic palettes of African and diasporic forms like highlife and jazz to create a truly elevated work of art.
Cymande Are Possibly the Most Sampled British Musical Artists of All Time
Cymande were foundational in the creation of hip-hop, disco, house, drum and bass, and rare groove, passed through generations like so much underground music.
Nubiyan Twist’s ‘Freedom Fables’ Is a Jazzy Cosmopolitan Celebration
Nubiyan Twist’s Freedom Fables maintains a sense of fun and of engagement among the ensemble and with their invisible audience, that’s as important as the high quality sonics.
Nkem Njoku and Ozzobia Brothers Bring Summery Highlife to ‘Ozobia Special’
Summery synths bring highlife of the 1980s on a reissue of Nkem Njoku and Ozzobia Brothers' innovative Ozobia Special.
‘Rejoice’ with Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela
This long-delayed collaboration by two African master musicians is an occasion for jubilation. Rejoice is a posthumous reminder of what Hugh Masekela at his best could deliver and of the now 80-year-old Tony Allen's amazing vitality.
Ibibio Sound Machine: Ibibio Sound Machine
This is an album that came out of a language.