Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & Hi-Life Jazz

"Two different lineups, each including some talented horn soloists in addition to the leader, offer amiable, groove-centric instrumental music to which Ambolley sometimes adds Isaac Hayes-like spoken-word observations using both English and Ghanaian languages. There is nothing here which will frighten the horses, and nor is that the intention. The music is meant to keep the listener feeling good and dancing, even if only in the head. And it does".

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"Album 35 from the Ghanaian master dubbed "the James Brown of Ghana" and "the godfather of highlife": A melting pot of influences, we get highlife, Afro-American soul and funk and, on the standout track - a re-imagining of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme - we get his beguiling take on spiritual jazz".

"Hi-Life Jazz is a super-cool and joyously good natured new release from the Ghanaian veteran ... It sees Ambolley smoothly mixing old-school highlife with vintage jazz and his own simigwa style. He starts with three highlife tracks before respectfully tackling some jazz gems.Much of the joy within Ambolley's music comes from the superb musicians in his ensemble, particularly noteworthy when heard on the new version of Thelonius Monk's 'Round Midnight' ... Equally successful is Ambolley's take on the first movement of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme prayer to God. Perhaps a bold move to tackle Coltrane. This has more vocals than Coltrane's original, it's less avantgarde, and has an infectious West African shuffle rhythm".