Ghana music reviews

If it's jazzy worldbeat you seek with no limiting ethnic roots but tendrils all over, including in Africa, take a listen to Imaginary Homeland's JUMP FOR GEORGE: down-home Appalachian African/Irish jazz.
It's closer to Irish than anything else - but to befuddle, consider that David Rogers is on talking drum and Mark Stone's on an African drum set and you get the gist of the many cultural influences going on here.

Of late, I find myself drowning in music: CDs purchased, itunes downloaded, you-gotta-here-this disks loaned to me by friends. Everything from early Willy Nelson to mid Mingus to the latest by The Streets, and not nearly enough time to listen. One of the reasons? I can't take JUMP FOR GEORGE of my proverbial turntable. I have been playing this album over and over for months and it continue to knock me out. I'm more than a little suspicious of the granola-nut-crunchy label "world music," but what else can you call this amazing hybrid? It's jazz...but it's got a little Appalachian thing going on...and there's a great bit of funk it that baseline...amazingly intricate, catchy rhythms...these wild, piercing violin solos that just rock (when's the last time you read that?). On at least one track, if you listen closely, you can hear the percussionist playing himself. This is swinging, gripping, foot-stomping music that defies categorization. A thrilling album; every serious music lover I've played it for has agreed. This year, JUMP FOR GEORGE is my you-gotta-hear-this disk. And I can't wait to hear where this band goes next.

Okay, I confess I've been put off by some new "world music" recordings that are derivative or over-produced -- too flavor-of-the-month, too slick and smooth, as if listeners can't appreciate organic and spontaneous sounds. But wow. I can't stop listening to this. This CD is a blend of old and new, of different worlds and different musical histories. I haven't heard anything like it: eclectic, lively, imaginative, melodic, humorous, serious, and soulful. This band has it all plus its own unique live sound, great improvisation plus intelligent composing, and amazing musicianship. Truly hot violin, nimble and provocative sax, grooving bass that really talks back to African drums, and out-of-this-world percussion. (Is that really only one guy having a polyrhythmic party on four-five African drums and rattles while Rogers is soaring on the sax? The CD lists only two guys on percussion -- including Rogers.) I have to say that this is one of the most exciting, honest, and original CD's I've heard in a decade. Definitely a keeper, whether I want to travel and expand my mind or just feel like letting my body dance.

I find it very helpful and my kids are now picking the language very fast