Alewa

Description

"Santrofi was the unexpected highlight of the WOMAD 2019 festival. The young Ghanian band stormed the stage with an energy that was electric and left us wanting more." - Paula Henderson (Womad)

Even without an album out: they have already set the world on fire freaking out audiences all over Europe on their 2019 summer festival tour including Sines in Portugal, WOMAD in UK, Roskilde and WOMEX in Tampere. This young allstar band from Ghana brims with gifted musicians and energy on stage. The 8 piece collective is made up of a young generation of awarded musicians who have backed anyone in Ghana from Azonto sensation Sarkodie to Nigerian superstar 2 Face Idibia, but their passion isn't local pop but Highlife. And their mission is to bring it back; not only to theworld but also to Ghana, where the young generation has forgotten all about this great music.

Santrofi's debut album Alewa now brings you a new wave of fresh highlife rooted in the past with a knowledge of the future directly from the streets of Accra. Santrofi was founded by bassist and producer Emmanuel Ofori who rose from the source having played with Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas and Kwashibu Area Band and has now formed his own band collective: Santrofi. The 8 musicians are deeply rooted in vintage Ghanaian highlife music in all its forms. The influences range from the riveting fast-paced pulse of 70s dance-guitar highlife, or the other-worldly sound of Highlife funk to the
polyrhythmic beats and melodies that took Afrobeat across the globe. The members have toured the world with legends like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Osibisa, George Darko and many, many others. They have learnt from the masters and are now ready to take highlife into the future.

"[Santrofi's] debut revives Ghana's golden era of music … It begins with a spoken paean to the Santrofi from which they take their name, the legendary four-winged bird from Akan mythology, rare as a phoenix: hunting one brings bad luck, but spotting one good fortune. Drums patter, shakers rattle, then the flourishes solidify into a groove, the responses into harmonies. Staccato whistles prompt the bird — and by extension the band — to take flight." **** Financial Times

"Last year the band blew European festival audiences away, allying precision instrumentation with crisp dance moves. You can't hear the choreography on this debut, but the playing remains immaculate – a high-octane mix of punchy jazz horns and call-and-response vocals typified by Kwaa Kwaa and Adwuma. There are Afrobeat echoes on Konongo Kaya, but Santrofi's message is joy rather than defiance. A winner." **** The Observer

"Santrofi intend to stir the soul as well as the body … they are the torch bearers for Ghana's home-grown art form, and the flame burns hot and bright." **** Songlines (Top of the World album)

"Santrofi bring elements from different eras acknowledging the rich history of Ghanaian music into a cohesive and vital sound for the 21st century." The Quietus

"A heady mix of zestful energy and positive messages … a resounding success." **** musicOMH

"The album is a small delight, taking Highlife sounds up a notch and creating a sound that is incredibly danceable … a wonderful throwback to the best days of Ghanaian music but they are also as modern as 2020 … a very worthy debut – these guys are something special." **** Music-News

"In a statement of intent, the pulsating track Africa quotes Kwame Nkrumah's iconic and rousing 1963 speech on African unity, while the dreamy Alewa, the joyous Kwabena Amoah and the bluesy Mobo exhilarate, as does the whole album." ***** Morning Star

"Santrofi don't put a foot wrong with this excellent album. Highlife has always been an optimistic music (which is exactly what we need right now) and this welcome debut is as refreshing as a cold Fanta on an Accra afternoon." 9/10 Rhythm Passport

"A refreshing homage to the Highlife phenomenon (unfairly overshadowed by its Afrobeat scion), Alewa may channel past triumphs, yet this isn't just a straight-up tribute act, but a modern fusion that proves its relevance and enduring soul-power. Let the sunshine in: Highlife is here to stay." Monolith Cocktail

"The ten songs maintain a level of vibrancy and clout throughout the album, each selection showcasing the band's startling ability to provide a fresh take on these irresistible rhythms." 4/5 Northern Sky

"On first hearing Ghanaian Highlife outfit Santrofi's debut album Alewa, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a digitally-remastered lost classic. The project is nevertheless very much of the here and now, even when doffing a deferential cap to the past … The heady mix covers traditional vibes (album opener Kokoroo, intoxicating floor-fillers Kwabena Amoah and Cocoase) alongside the fusion sounds of Afro-funk & Rock (Kwaa-Kwaa; appeal to Pan-African socio-political revival, Africa) and even a touch of Blues (Mobo). If one tune encapsulates the project in all its celebratory splendour, it's the aptly titular Alewa … A lyrical guitar solo and brass section yank at the ears from the first listen, whilst the irresistible cascading bass groove stirs the hips to action." I Was Just Thinking … blog"

Description

"Santrofi was the unexpected highlight of the WOMAD 2019 festival. The young Ghanian band stormed the stage with an energy that was electric and left us wanting more."- Paula Henderson (Womad)

Even without an album out: they have already set the world on fire freaking out audiences all over Europe on their 2019 summer festival tour including Sines in Portugal, WOMAD in UK, Roskilde and WOMEX in Tampere. This young allstar band from Ghana brims with gifted musicians and energy on stage. The 8 piece collective is made up of a young generation of awarded musicians who have backed anyone in Ghana from Azonto sensation Sarkodie to Nigerian superstar 2 Face Idibia, but their passion isn't local pop but Highlife. And their mission is to bring it back; not only to the world but also to Ghana, where the young generation has forgotten all about this great music.

Santrofi's debut album Alewa now brings you a new wave of fresh highlife rooted in the past with a knowledge of the future directly from the streets of Accra. Santrofi was
founded by bassist and producer Emmanuel Ofori who rose from the source having played with Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas and Kwashibu Area Band and has now formed his own band collective: Santrofi. The 8 musicians are deeply rooted in vintage Ghanaian highlife music in all its forms. The influences range from the riveting fast-paced pulse of 70s dance-guitar highlife, or the other-worldly sound of Highlife funk to the
polyrhythmic beats and melodies that took Afrobeat across the globe. The members have toured the world with legends like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Osibisa, George Darko and many, many others. They have learnt from the masters and are now ready to take highlife into the future.