Music
Ambolley To Launch New Album “Sekunde” @ Alliance Française
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley aka Simigwa Do Man, will on Thursday June 21 launch his 25th album, ‘Sekunde’, with a concert at the Alliance Française in Accra.
A regular at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill in Accra, Blay Ambolley, who was inspired by James Brown, Ray Charles, and the late Sam Cook has performed in diverse parts of Ghana since his return from a long sojourn in the United States.
The album, which is a cool blend of jazz, highlife and soul, reveals Ambolley’s highly optimistic style which has swayed audiences in various countries around the world.
Comprising educative songs as well as issues relating to his life, the CD is full of danceable beats as well as a distinctive mix of rhythms and beats. Undeniably, the general arrangement showcases the expertise and experience of this internationally acclaimed musician.
Ambolley’s ability to audibly rhyme and roll out meaningful and literarily rich lyrics is well known. Indeed, ‘Sekunde’ is set to unveil highly polished compositions that are set to catch the ears of listeners.
He has toured throughout West Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States and performed on the same stage with some of the world’s most celebrated artistes such as Miriam Makeba of South Africa and the late Afro Beat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of Nigeria.
Others are 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.
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 Congressional/Gubernatorial Certificate of Special Recognition by Congresswoman Juanita Millinder McDonald.
The Institut Français in Ghana and the Alliance Française in Accra are supporting the concert/album launch.
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