Santrofi – Deep into Highlife (live) (Outhere Records OH 038, 2023)
Santrofi’s Deep into Highlife (live) album, released under Outhere Records in 2023, captures the electrifying live performance of this vibrant seven-piece band from Ghana. Their passionate mission to revive the highlife genre shines through on this record, with a remarkable twist. They are joined by Berlin’s premier 14-piece brass ensemble, the Omniversal Earkestra, resulting in a spectacular collaboration of over 25 talented musicians gracing the stage, all pouring their hearts into the music, beautifully preserved in this live LP.
This album serves as a documentary testament to the grand finale of the “Deep into Highlife” project, which unfolded in 2021/22 across Ghana and Germany. To start this extraordinary journey, it commenced in Accra, where Santrofi, the rising stars of Highlife, welcomed a multitude of artists to the stage for a series of unforgettable concerts and jam sessions. Among the guests were luminaries of Highlife like the late A.B. Crentsil and A.K. Yeboah, alongside emerging talents such as Camidoh, Black Sherif, and the Kumasi drill sensation, Yaw Tog.
In May and June 2022, Santrofi transported the “Deep into Highlife” experience to Germany. The lineup included two remarkable special guests: A.K. Yeboah, the guitar legend and pioneer of Ghana’s Highlife scene, and Yaw Tog, the trailblazing drill artist from Kumasi, fondly known as the “young bull” among his fans.
The crowning jewel of the tour was the unforgettable concert held on June 2nd, 2022, at Kulturbrauerei in Berlin. Santrofi, at this momentous occasion, found their musical synergy enhanced by the backing of Berlin’s elite brass unit, the Omniversal Earkestra. This 14-piece brass collective had gained recognition with their Le Mali 70 album, which even led them on a recording trip to Mali.
The album presents fantastic live renditions of some of Santrofi’s most beloved songs, enriched by the skillful horn arrangements crafted by the Omniversal Earkestra for this extraordinary session. Furthermore, it also features “Suru nipa,” an original composition by A.K. Yeboah, where the singer imparts invaluable advice to his audience: “Do not fear ghosts; fear humans.” Lastly, there’s a captivating version of Yaw Tog’s single, “Sei mu.”
Buy Deep into Highlife.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.