Okyerema Asante - Drum Message [2LP]

Strut

£32.38

Format: 2 x LP
Catalogue No.: STRUT247LP
Barcode: 4062548029857
Release Date: 01 Oct 2021
Genre: International

TRACKLIST:
LP
A1. Drum Message
A2. Asante Sana
A3. Follow Me
B1. Sabi
B2. Mother Africa
B3. Never Fly Away From The Funk
C1. Play A Sweet Rhythm On Them Drums
C2. Adowa
C3. Sabi (Black Fire Mix)
D1. Kazi’s Awakening
D2. To The Ancestors

Strut return to the rich archives of Black Fire Records for the Drum Message album by Ghanaian master percussionist Okyerema Asante from 1977.

After playing a short spell early in his career with Ebo Taylor’s Blue Monksband at Tip Toe’s in Accra, Asante joined the fledgling Hedzoleh Soundz during the early ‘70s at their Napoleon Club residency in the city. After playing Fela’s Shrine, Fela recommended them to Hugh Masekela as an ideal backing band and Hedzoleh joined Masekela on a US tour in December 1973. Sharing the same management company, Charisma, Asante first met Plunky and Oneness Of Juju during an East coast tour with Masekela, starting a relationship with the band that has endured until today.

Recorded at Arrest Studios in Washington D.C. in October 1977 and featuring musicians from Oneness alongside Gil Scott Heron cohort Brian Jackson on piano, Drum Message represents an important milestone for Asante: “This album really came from my heart.