Welcome to the fourth entry in our Black History Month-UK October countdown where we spotlight a Ghanaian whose work has had an impact in the UK and beyond.
Did you know that Highlife legend and Afrobeat pioneer Ebo Taylor attended a music college in the 60s in Soho, London alongside Teddy Osei, who would later go on to form part of the British-based Afro rock band Osibisa?
In 1962, Taylor moved to London to study music at the Eric Gilder School of Music with funding from a government cultural programme instituted by Ghana’s first prime minister and president Dr Kwame Nkrumah, journalist Ekow Barnes writes in an article for CNN.
The school was at 195 Wardour Street in Soho , which at the time, was right in the heart of club land. While in London, Taylor met and collaborated with Nigerian saxophonist Peter King and Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.
Now aged 88, and with a formidable collection of albums under his belt including 'Love & Death', Taylor continues to create music and perform.
His music has gone on to be sampled by international musicians including Usher used a sample from Taylor's song "Heaven" for "She Don't Know" with Ludacris in 2010.
His track “Obi do Woa (If Someone Loves You)” is part of a compilation album featuring musical greats including Hyldon, Dom Salvador, Antonio Carlos & Jocafi, Carlos Dafé, Joyce & Tutty Moreno.
The Jazz Is Dead 021’ album, produced by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, is released today (4 October) and features a selection of unreleased songs from the Jazz Is Dead Series 3.
The Jazz is Dead Series 3 album is due to be released on 31 January 2025. this
Tell us what you think of the new release.
The contents of this page cannot be reproduced without permission.
Comentarios