Ebo Taylor & Afrobeat Academy - Love Is Not Too Far
(Exclusive YouTube video from ParisDjs.com) 2009-08-23

Ebo Taylor, the legendary composer, arranger and musician from Ghana took the stage for the first time in Europe, together with artists of the internationally assigned Afrobeat Academy (featuring musicians from the Poets Of Rhythm, Karl Hector & the Malcouns, Kabu Kabu and Fela's Afrika 70's guitarist Oghene Kologobo), in Paris on July 17th, 2009 (organized by Rockers International & Paris DJs) and in Frankfurt on July 18th, 2009 (organized by Africadelay & Analog Africa).

The exceptional guitar player is considered as one of the most distinguished Highlife, Afro beat and jazz composers of Ghana. Between 1962 and 1965 he studied together with his friend Fela Kuti at the renowned Eric Guilder School of Music in London. As early as the 50th and 60th he caused quite a sensation as the head of the Stargazers Dance Band as well as the Broadway Band. In the early 70th he headed the best known Big Band of Ghana, the 'Uhuru Band' (later called Uhurus) and so formed the Highlife.


Photo by Damien Darricarrere

Since the 70th Taylor produced different albums as solo artist and developed more and more his own, innovative and distinctive style - recognisable for instance on his albums "Ebo Taylor and the Pelicans" or "Twer Nyame". Ebo has been very active in numerous projects as session musician. Besides his solo works, he contributed significantly to the development of music in Ghana, as arranger and producer to the big labels in Ghana, like Essiebons and Gapophone. For these labels, being their musical director, he produced i.e. well known musicians such as C.K. Mann of the Apagya Show Band, a legendary All-Star-Highlife-Funk-Band, or artists like Pat Thomas, Jewel Ackah and Papa Yankson.

Lovers of Afro beat, Highlife and Afro jazz may now wait for the new album Ebo Taylor recorded this summer in Berlin for the Analog Africa label with the same Afrobeat Academy crew of musicians. Thankfully here's an extract from the Paris concert. We should podcast the highlights of this fantastic show quite soon on ParisDJs.com, and might upload some more live videos in the future so stay connected...

The Musicians :
- EBO TAYLOR - guitar, vocals (Ghana)
- EKOW ALABI - drums (Ghana / Kabu Kabu/Jimi Tenor Band, Afrobeat Academy)
- PATRICK FRANKOWSKI - bass (Germany / Kabu Kabu/Jimi Tenor Band)
- J.J. WHITEFIELD - guitar (Germany / Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector & the Malcouns, Afrobeat Academy)
- THOMAS MYLAND - clavinet, organ, etc (Germany / Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector & the Malcouns)
- BEN ABARBANEL-WOLFF - tenor & bariton sax (USA / Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector & the Malcouns, Afrobeat Academy)
- STU KRAUSE - trumpet (Canada / Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector & the Malcouns)
- OGHENE KOLOGBO - guitar (Nigeria / Fela's Afrika 70, Afrobeat Academy)

Links :
youtube.com/user/ParisDJsVideos
discogs.com/artist/Ebo+Taylor
myspace.com/themalcouns
myspace.com/thepoetsofrhythm
myspace.com/kabukabuberlin
myspace.com/afrobeatacademyband
myspace.com/kologbo
parisdjs.com
myspace.com/parisdjs
facebook.com/parisdjs
twitter.com/parisdjs
analogafrica.blogspot.com
...

AFRICADELAY presents EBO TAYLOR
Saturday, July 18th 2009 - Frankfurt

Ebo Taylor for the first time live in Europe!

The AFRICADELAY-Party, taking place at the Schwedlersee on July 18th promises to be a cultural Highlight and a sensation for all lovers of Afro beat, Highlife and Afro jazz. Ebo Taylor, the legendary composer, arranger and musician from Ghana will take the stage for the first time in Europe, together with Artists of the internationally assigned Afro beat Academy.

Ebo Taylor be playing with the same musicians as the day before in Paris at La Bellevilloise and then go to Berlin with them to record an album for the Analog Africa label!

ROCKERS INTERNATIONAL & PARIS DJS présentent BAM BAM CLUB ATOMIC - 70's AFROFUNK

LIVE : EBO TAYLOR with KABU KABU, KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS and AFROBEAT ACADEMY !

Redécouvert récemment à travers les compilations GHANA SOUNDZ (Soundway Records), le guitariste et arrangeur ghanéen EBO TAYLOR fusionna durant les années 70 Highlife et Afro-beat en un genre nouveau: Afro-funk! Il sera en concert pour la première fois en Europe le Vendredi 17 juillet à Paris à la Bellevilloise, accompagné de la crème des musiciens Afro-funk actuels: EKOW ALABI (Kabu Kabu, Jimi Tenor), PATRICK FRANKOWSKI (Kabu Kabu, Jimi Tenor) STU KRAUSE (Poets of Rhythm/Karl Hector & the Malcouns), BEN ABARBANEL-WOLFF (Poets, Karl Hector, Afrobeat Academy), J.J. WHITEFIELD (Poets, Karl Hector), THOMAS MYLAND (Poets, Karl Hector), et OGHENE KOLOGBO (Fela's Afrika 70, Afrobeat Academy).
La soirée continuera avec les deejays du collectif et site PARISDJS.COM, MANU BOUBLI, DJOULS, LOIK DURY, ainsi que RADIO SALAH, DJ résident et organisateur des soirées BAM BAM CLUB. Ils s'assemblent pour la première fois sous la bannière commune BAM BAM CLUB ATOMIC pour une soirée Afrofunk, Afrobeat, Afrojazz, Afrolatin, Afrosoul et Spiritual Afro!

Paris DJs Soundsystem - Afrofunk Atomic (MP3 Podcast on www.parisdjs.com) Kraked, 2009-07-15 The live event of summer 2009 in Paris will happen this friday at La Bellevilloise where Rockers International and Paris DJs present, for the first time in Europe, Ebo Taylor with members of The Poets Of Rhythm, Kabu Kabu, Afrobeat Academy and Kologbo, guitarist for Fela's Afrika 70!! They'll play the next day in Frankfurt and then will go to Berlin to record an album for Samy's Analog Africa label. It's all just gonna be IN-CRE-DI-BLE!!! Here's a 30mn tasty mix cooked by Loik to introduce you to Ebo...

Ghana Soundz
"Afro-Beat, Funk And Fusion 70's Ghana
"Volume 2"
(Soundway, 2004)

Une des meilleurs compilations de funk africain au monde si ce n'est la meilleure. Par funk africain, j'entends funk/soul, funk/rock et funk/afrobeat, bien sûr. Toute la palette du funk africain. Encore plus fort que le volume 1! L'afrique, Fela, James Brown, tout est là, en concentré!

Tracklisting :
01. Oscar Sulley & the Uhuru Dance Band - Olufeme - 2:34
02. Joe Mensah - Africa is Home - 8:54
03. Ebo Taylor - Atwer Abroba - 7:05
04. The African Brothers - Sakatumbe - 6:40
05. Ebo Taylor Jnr. and Wuta Wazuri - Mondo Soul Funky - 4:59
06. The Sweet Talks - Kye Kye Pe Aware - 4:51
07. The Ogyatanaa Show Band - Disco Africa - 4:13
08. Christy Azuma & Uppers International - Naam - 4:33
09. Bob PInado & his Sound Coasters - Me, You, One (means I love you - 3:59
10. Marijata - No Condition is Permanent - 7:02
11. K.Frimpong & Vis a Vis - Aboagyewaa - 11:22
12. The Uhuru Dance Band - Agbadza - 3:28
13. Uppers Chapter 2 - Samarin Bolga - 2:50
14. The Apagya Show Band - Tamfo Nyi Ekyir - 3:56

Lien :
Download MP3 samples sur Soundwayrecords.com
...

Ghana Soundz - Afro-beat, Funk & Fusion In 70's Ghana
(Soundway 2002) Selected by Miles Cleret

Encore un disque de 2002 qui n'est finalement disponibles dans nos bacs qu'un an près. Et encore, nous ne devrions pas nous plaindre, celui-là est sorti en France! il y a tant de bons disques n'arrivent jamais jusqu'ici... comme ces 45 tours de funk et d'afrobeat teintés de R&B et de jazz du Ghana, que l'anglais Miles Cleret est allé dénicher lui-même pendant deux ans sur place. Collectés dans ce premier volume anthologique, ces "ultra-rare and previously unreleased afro-beat, funk and fusion from 70's Ghana" valent leur pesant de cacahouètes aux épices de funk et de soul. Amateurs de Santana ou de Fela, shake your rootsy bootsy!!
Note : **** (Havanito)