Ebo Taylor Tribute w/ Afla Sackey & Afrik Bawantu
Almost one year on from his passing we are paying tribute to the legendary Ghanian bandleader and guitarist Ebo Taylor who, over a career of nearly six decades, recorded an impressive discography spanning highlife, afrobeat, jazz and more. From classics such as “Love and Death”, to deep cuts sought out by samplers and producers the world over. His incredible story from studying music in London to early highlife and afrobeat experiments in Accra, to his exile in Nigeria, finally culminated in his renaissance later in life with his first international release, Love and Death. Released on Strut Records in 2010 and recorded by Ebo — at this point in his seventies — with the Berlin-based Afrobeat Academy – it brought his sound to a wider international audience, and led to him touring widely.
To honour this titan of West African music Ghanaian vocalist and master percussionist, Afla Sackey brings his full band Afrik Bawantu for a set packed full of Ebo Taylor classics and spiced with some of the band’s own funky Afro-beat / Highlife songs for a night of full powered Ghana Grooves.
Afla Sackey & Afrik Bawantu
Afla brings his musical dream of blending traditional Ghanaian music with sizzling Afrobeat grooves to life, topping it off with an irresistibly funky twist. Their unique blend of vibrant African rhythms with fast, animated horn sections and heavy bass lines brings a whole new definition to the Afro-Funk genre.
He started his creative life as a dancer with the Bukom Ensemble of Ghana, known for their infectious folk-driven rhythms. Afla’s elders soon recognised the musical potential of this youth and encouraged him with careful guidance and training. This provided the foundations upon which Sackey has developed his career in music and dance.
Alfa’s talent has been recognised by many well established musicians whom he has collaborated with and recorded as a session musician. Great artists such as Sun Ra, Ginger Baker, Seun Kuti, Sons of Kemet, Tony Allen, Yaaba Funk, Dele Sosimi and many more.