Jazz Festival Closes In Accra

The second Accra Jazz Festival has ended at the W.E.B. Dubois Memorial Centre in Accra with a variety of jazz forms that captivated Ghanaian and foreign jazz lovers alike.

Indeed, the festival revealed the presence of a jazz audience in the country that must be sustained and maintained through regular jazz concerts and festivals.

The festival, which formed part of the 2005 edition of the European Week celebrations in Accra, attracted several groups who showcased diverse explorations into jazz formations with both traditional and western instruments.

Among the groups and musicians that performed during the two-day event are Cafe Du Sport (Germany), Hewale Sounds, Bessa Simons, Steven Kontoh, Karma Band, Eddie Abdelrahmani, Wala Band, Adeshie Quartet and Danquah Palm Wine Jazz.

Led by bassist Christian von Kaphengst, Cafe Du Sport treated the crowd to a series of contrasting sounds that were neatly interspersed with both simple and complex harmonic patterns.

Indeed, the Quartet took the audience through a journey of guitar chords as wild African rhythms spurted out frenzied drumming by Ghanaian percussionist Mustapha Burtie, who collaborated with the group.

Highlife guru, Bessa Simons and his group delivered a powerful rendition of some of his compositions. With a combination of both traditional and Western instruments, Simons also played his own versions of some popular jazz tunes including “What’s Going On” by the late Marvin Gaye.

Led by flute legend Dela Botri, Hewale Sounds introduced their own version of jazz with indigenous African instruments as they thrilled the audience with traditional compositions laced with contemporary extensions.

Karma Band with ace guitarist John Young joined the fray with their own compositions of jazz and blues that were accompanied by harmonious abstractions.

With Charles Dewey on piano, Wala Band displayed a fine blend of local and foreign rhythms that has always formed the basis of his compositions while Eddie Abdelrahmani intoduced jazz based on rhythms from Niger and Mali.

Master drummer, Steven Kontoh alongside two female atumpan and fontonfrom drummers delivered jazz through an array of wooden African percussion instruments that reverberated through the trees of the Du Bois Centre with amazing clarity.

With Kwesi Danquah on guitar, Danquah Palm Wine Jazz introduced its version of jazz that is heavily influenced by old Palm Wine Highlife rhythms while the Adeshie Quartet fused a traditional instruments with the piano to create refreshing jazz.

In the wake of the successful jazz weekend, calls have been made for radio stations in the country to provide air time for Ghanaian traditional, contemporary and jazz groups who have been marginalised over the years.

Other activities that marked the European Week celebrations, which was opened by His Excellency Stephan Frowein, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Ghana, include a Film Festival, Art and Photo Exhibitions, Literary Events, Theatre Shows and other cultural activities.

The festival, which was organised by the Ghanaian Jazz musician Jimmy Beckley, was sponsored by Taysec, Latex Foam, Xerox, Atlantis Radio, Citi FM and the renowned sculptor Kofi Setordji.

The second Accra Jazz Festival has ended at the W.E.B. Dubois Memorial Centre in Accra with a variety of jazz forms that captivated Ghanaian and foreign jazz lovers alike.

Indeed, the festival revealed the presence of a jazz audience in the country that must be sustained and maintained through regular jazz concerts and festivals.

The festival, which formed part of the 2005 edition of the European Week celebrations in Accra, attracted several groups who showcased diverse explorations into jazz formations with both traditional and western instruments.

Among the groups and musicians that performed during the two-day event are Cafe Du Sport (Germany), Hewale Sounds, Bessa Simons, Steven Kontoh, Karma Band, Eddie Abdelrahmani, Wala Band, Adeshie Quartet and Danquah Palm Wine Jazz.

Led by bassist Christian von Kaphengst, Cafe Du Sport treated the crowd to a series of contrasting sounds that were neatly interspersed with both simple and complex harmonic patterns.

Indeed, the Quartet took the audience through a journey of guitar chords as wild African rhythms spurted out frenzied drumming by Ghanaian percussionist Mustapha Burtie, who collaborated with the group.

Highlife guru, Bessa Simons and his group delivered a powerful rendition of some of his compositions. With a combination of both traditional and Western instruments, Simons also played his own versions of some popular jazz tunes including “What’s Going On” by the late Marvin Gaye.

Led by flute legend Dela Botri, Hewale Sounds introduced their own version of jazz with indigenous African instruments as they thrilled the audience with traditional compositions laced with contemporary extensions.

Karma Band with ace guitarist John Young joined the fray with their own compositions of jazz and blues that were accompanied by harmonious abstractions.

With Charles Dewey on piano, Wala Band displayed a fine blend of local and foreign rhythms that has always formed the basis of his compositions while Eddie Abdelrahmani intoduced jazz based on rhythms from Niger and Mali.

Master drummer, Steven Kontoh alongside two female atumpan and fontonfrom drummers delivered jazz through an array of wooden African percussion instruments that reverberated through the trees of the Du Bois Centre with amazing clarity.

With Kwesi Danquah on guitar, Danquah Palm Wine Jazz introduced its version of jazz that is heavily influenced by old Palm Wine Highlife rhythms while the Adeshie Quartet fused a traditional instruments with the piano to create refreshing jazz.

In the wake of the successful jazz weekend, calls have been made for radio stations in the country to provide air time for Ghanaian traditional, contemporary and jazz groups who have been marginalised over the years.

Other activities that marked the European Week celebrations, which was opened by His Excellency Stephan Frowein, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Ghana, include a Film Festival, Art and Photo Exhibitions, Literary Events, Theatre Shows and other cultural activities.

The festival, which was organised by the Ghanaian Jazz musician Jimmy Beckley, was sponsored by Taysec, Latex Foam, Xerox, Atlantis Radio, Citi FM and the renowned sculptor Kofi Setordji.