Highlife on the Move: Selected Nigerian & Ghanaian Recordings from London & Lagos 1954-66

This double-CD set captures the ‘colonial’-influenced dance music of Anglophone West Africa, from shortly before and after Ghanaian and Nigerian independence (which the two nations gained in 1957 and 1960 respectively). These were very much the glory days of swing and jazz-influenced highlife music, in which the typical orchestration was horn-led, in contrast to the guitar-led bands of the late 60s onwards. Many of the songs on this collection also reflect the great influence of calypsos and Latin mambos from across the Caribbean. Plenty of these recordings were made in London and this facilitated the interchange between musicians of West African and West Indian origin.

Compiler Markus Coester goes into fascinating detail explaining in his liner notes how the various dance bands of the period swapped musicians: Nigerians, Ghanaians and West Indians all made the most of opportunities to record in London, and to perform at the popular West African music venues in the bohemian Soho of the 50s. Musicians of the London jazz scene such as Chris Barber and Humphrey Lyttelton introduced African and Caribbean players and repertoire into British jazz. Some of the names will be familiar, but the recordings are tantalisingly rare. Three tracks from young jazz student Fela Kuti are among the first recordings that he made. Other familiar names featured include Ginger Johnson, Eddie Lamptey, Cab Kaye (Quaye) and Bobby Benson. However there is a wealth of lesser-known, but equally enjoyable, artists on this historically significant release.