Label : Mr Bongo/Wea International
Genre : Soul,
Style : Funk/Soul, Afro Funk, Highlife
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Ghana, contributor of the fusion between Funk, Jazz and High-Life music. Influenced by his countryfellow and master Ebo Taylor, he released his debut solo album "Simigwa" in 1975, a afro-funk album to the tropical flavour that will give him the nickname of the "James Brown" of Ghana. "Ambolley" adds a boogie-disco touch including Caribbean and Soul music elements, performed with the backing band "Obsidia", an Afro-Caribbean collective based in London since 1969. It features Daku Potato (ds, congas), Emmanuel Rentzos (ep), Teddy Osei (fl), Kari Bannerman (eg), plus additional musicians whose indian musician Pandit Dinesh on tabla and George 'Lee' Larnyoh, saxophonist for "Toots & The Maytals". Titles include dancefloor bomb "It's Highlife", calypso funk "Cut Your Coat" & "Frafranta", reggae rocker variation of his song "Adwoa" from his first album, a catchy instrumental of percussion "Simigwa", the soulful songs "Walking Down The Street" and "Cause I Love You".
