September 17, 2018

  • Jazzing Up Ghanian Folk Music

     Songs of Lake Volta

    Kinetic
    Kassia Ensemble
    Ansonica Records 0009
    Total Time:  51:30
    Recording:   ****/****
    Performance: ****/****

    Ghanian traditional music becomes the inspiration for this new collection of nine works by Joseph Sheehan.  Sheehan traveled to the West African country where he spent time studying the region’s unique music, dances, and culture.  He then took some of the improvisational aspects of this music and incorporated it into a style fusing contemporary jazz and classical chamber music.

    Across the nine songs on the album, Sheehan explores various folk songs and casts them in modern dress.  The repetitive melodic contours lend themselves well to the sort of jazzy repetition with interesting shifting harmonies resulting.  The opening song, “Akoo Kofi”, has a laid back feel with nice electric guitar lines and piano ideas that help fill out the evolving harmony.  Though it is inspired by a Ga text, it is instrumental.  A stronger sense of this blended jazz and Ghanian musical style appears in “Damba Suite” with its traditional Dagbani text.  The melodies are quite beautiful and Sheehan wraps them in this light jazz style with its modern combo approaches.  It is interesting to hear also how these repetitive rhythms or melodies are then used to launch into interesting improvisational moments in the music.  Even the blend of classical instrumentation has one foot in the jazz world.  The former adds a sort of intimate beauty that makes the music have a more personal side.  In a sense it is like hearing the composer’s own awe and appreciation of these discoveries shift into the unique musical engagement and development of the sources Sheehan explores.

    Songs of Lake Volta is thus a rather unique album that is in that category of Global Jazz-influenced music.  It is filled with gorgeous melodies tastefully intertwined with musical development that has one foot in both worlds.  Anqwenique Wingfield’s stunning vocals give this music an additional level of emotional connection.  Overall, it is a fascinating release of engaging music.