With his powerful, raw voice he infuses highlife with funk, soul and afrobeat.
Performance 7 july 2019 Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is sometimes referred to as the ‘James Brown of Ghana. And not without reason. With his deep and groovy afrofunk sound, that he called simigwa-do, he exploded on the Ghanaian music scene in 1973. His concoction of highlife, funk, jazz, soul and proto-rap was (and still is) exhilarating. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley started in the sixties in the Uhuru Dance Band, and learned music from outstanding artists like Ebo Taylor, with whom he founded The Apagya Show Band in 1974. Now, after more than 40 years and 30 albums, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a living legend too. He figures on numerous trendy re-issues, from obscure ones like Afrodisiac to hip ones like Soundway and Analog Africa. Analog Africa released a 12” vinyl in August 2018 containing four afrofunk tracks by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. Finally he will tour in Europe for the first time with his own, very powerful group: the Sekondi Band. They’ve been playing together now for over seven years and released the album Ketan on Agogo Records. If you like deep groovy afrofunk and highlife, you shouldn’t miss Gyedy-Blay Ambolley & his Sekondi Band.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, lead vocal, saxophone
Isaac Krobreni Karikari, keyboards
Charles Oduro Donkor, bass
Philip Quaicoe, guitar
Peter Mensah Kadesh, drums Justice
Nii Adjiri Williams, kpanlogo, congas, percussions
Fru Assah Atanga, saxophone
Isaac Kwaku Ansong, trumpet
Benjamin Osabotey, trombone
Serwaa Frempong, backing vocals, dance