EBO TAYLOR, ADRIAN YOUNGE & ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD - Ebo Taylor JID022 - LP - Black Vinyl [JAN 31]

LP - Standard Edition Black Vinyl.   

At 88 years of age, the Ghanian highlife and afrobeat pioneer Ebo Taylor traveled to the US for the very first time to perform at the now iconic Jazz Is Dead concert series, selling out venues across the country. It was during this time that Ebo recorded a psychedelic afrobeat album alongside Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad. This mind-blowing collaboration is one that could not have been anticipated by Ebo fans worldwide and will surely satisfy connoisseurs of classic West African funk.

“Collaborating with Ebo Taylor is a bucket-list accomplishment. For me, it is the equivalent of working with musical genius Fela Kuti, because of how much I have studied both of their work and influence on the genre of Afrobeat. Seriously, recording the genius to analog tape while highlighting the raw recording styles of 1970s Africa is a dream I never thought could come to reality! It was also great to work with Ebo’s son, Henry Taylor, who is a true musical force in his own right.” – Adrian Younge

The swirling horns and gritty guitars heard on Ebo Taylor JID022 are reminiscent of his seminal seventies recordings that made him one of Africa’s most prolific and revolutionary artists of all time. Recorded inside of Younge’s Linear Labs studio, this album captures polyrhythmic percussion and twangy, fuzzed out guitars that prove that rhythm is key. The ensemble of Ghanian background vocalists emanates a uniquely spiritual sound that takes the listener back to Ebo’s prime.

However, one of the most exhilarating components to this album is Ebo’s signature approach to vocal stylings. His heartfelt lyrics about love, peace and spirituality echo nearly a centuary of experience and wisdom. Songs such as “Beye Bu, Beye Ba” demonstrate how God provides for his people as songs like “Kusi Na Sibo” teach life lessons on gratitude. This is an afrobeat classic that stands as a true highlight in the canon of Ebo Taylor’s undeniable catalog and a crown jewel in the Jazz Is Dead library.

Ebo Taylor JID022 is set to be released just in time for Ebo’s highly anticipated live tour of The Americas presented by Jazz Is Dead. Ebo will be joined by the Ebo Taylor Family Band alongside his protégée and Ghanian legend Pat Thomas. Dates for this tour through The United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil can be found on Jazz Is Dead’s site. 

Tracklist: 

1) Get Up
2) Obra Akyedzi
3) Kusi Na Sibo
4) Obi Do Wa (If Someone Loves You
5) Nsa a w’oanye edwuma, ondzidzi
6) Beye Bu, Beye Ba
7) Feeling

1) Get Up
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric guitars, Monophonic synthesizer, Clavinet
ii. Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Organ
iii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iv. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
v. Samson Olawe: Congas
vi. Emmanuel Ackone: Electric bass guitar
vii. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
viii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
ix. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
x. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
xi. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xii. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

2) Obra Akyedzi
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric guitars, Organ, Percussion
ii. Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Percussion
iii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iv. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
v. Samson Olawe: Congas
vi. Emmanuel Ackone: Electric bass guitar
vii. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
viii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
ix. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
x. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
xi. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xii. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

3) Kusi Na Sibo
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric guitars, Percussion
ii. Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Electric bass guitar, Percussion
iii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iv. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
v. Samson Olawe: Congas
vi. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
vii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
viii. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
ix. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
x. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xi. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

4) Obi Do Wa (If Someone Loves You)
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric guitars, Organ, Monophonic synthesizer, Percussion
ii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iii. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
iv. Samson Olawe: Congas
v. Emmanuel Ackone: Electric bass guitar
vi. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
vii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
viii. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
ix. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
x. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xi. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

5) Nsa a w’oanye edwuma, ondzidzi
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar, Percussion
ii. Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Electric guitar, Percussion
iii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iv. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
v. Samson Olawe: Congas
vi. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
vii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
viii. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
ix. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
x. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xi. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

6) Beye Bu, Beye Ba
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric guitar, Percussion
ii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iii. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
iv. Samson Olawe: Congas
v. Emmanuel Ackone: Electric bass guitar
vi. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
vii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
viii. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
ix. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
x. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xi. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Jazmin Hicks, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

7) Feeling
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar
ii. Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Organ
iii. Henry Taylor: Fender Rhodes piano
iv. Philip Andy Biney: Drums
v. Samson Olawe: Congas
vi. Jay Flat – Baritone saxophone
vii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
viii. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
ix. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
x. Erm Navarro – Trombone
xi. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
b. Lead Vocal: Ebo Taylor
c. Background Vocals: Henry Taylor, Philip Andy Biney, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton