My New Album Is Ready – Amboulley

Legendary Ghanaian musician Nana Gyedu Blay Ambolley has announced that all is set for the release of his new album ‘Sekunde’. According to him, the new album, which is yet to hit the airwaves, will be launched on June 21 at the Alliance Francaise in Accra. Ambolley’s infectious sound, influenced by early ’70s James Brown, has led many to label him the godfather of hip-life, the fusion of the hip hop and highlife genres.

He told BEATWAVES that he had strived hard to reach the final stage of the album and was very proud to release the original copies in the country by the end of June this year. Ambolley, who has contributed immensely towards the vibrant music industry in the Ghana, told BEATWAVES,

“My new album is ready. It has been equipped with good danceable music”.

He explained that he had worked tirelessly on the album, which had all the qualities to meet the demand of music lovers in Ghana and beyond, adding that, he believed in not just coming out with any music, but music which would make an impact in the lives of music lovers.

Ambolley was optimistic that his style of play, coupled with the fact that most of his songs were fused with soul-touching rhythms, would take him places. The album is made up of educative songs and almost all the songs have danceable beats that make the album a rich one. The album, which is a unique mix of neatly arranged lyrics with sensational and inspirational rhythms, has distinctive features in terms of arrangement, beat and style.

The amazing feature about Ambolley is his ability to audibly rhyme and churn out meaningful and literarily-rich lyrics amidst simple but good beats which have been neatly programmed.

Ambolley’s performance career is extensive. He has toured throughout West Afrika, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He has performed on the same stage with some of the world’s most celebrated artistes such as Miriam Makeba of South Afrika, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of Nigeria, the late George Howard, Angela Bofill, Norman Connors, Manu DeBango, Lakeside, Chikuzan Takahashi of Japan, Ricardo Estrada of Cuba, Mayuto Correa of Brazil and toured Ghana with Oscar Brashear and Michael Session.

Because of his originality, his performances have left audiences raving and shouting for more, as was the case at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. He has played the House of Blues in Hollywood, is a frequent performer at the Jazz Bakery in California and has played to “standing room only” crowds in London, England.

Ambolley has over 20 albums to his credit and has received numerous musical awards. In October of 2003, Ambolley was prestigiously recognized for his commitment to his musical craft with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Jazz at Drew from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA.

Additionally, he received a Congressional, Gubernatorial Certificate of Special Recognition by Congress woman Juanita Millinder McDonald. Also L.A. Weekly nominated Ambolley for Best World Beat Recombinant Artists-2003.

It has been said that “the genre on Ambolley’s music is entertainingly elevating and spiritually inescapable, such that its uniqueness transcends all musical categories. Checkout his latest live recording ‘Jazz meets Hi-Life’, ‘One World, One People, One Destiny.’**