Bawasaba Leader Explodes Into Jazz

A composer and jazz music arranger, Afrikabi Aperh (son of Africa), of the Bawasaba Jazz band has released an album for Ghana?s 50th independence anniversary celebration in March 2007.

Afrikabi Aperh, leader and founder of the Bawasba Band told The Spectator in an exclusive interview in Accra last Wednesday that he has entered the jazz music business to make a difference on the Ghanaian musical scene.

The eight-track album, he said has pieces such as ?Ayekoo?, ??Biokoye?, ?We are all black? and others and would be available at a special launch coming very soon.

Afrikabi Aperh, the ?Gbese boy? says he founded Bawasaba Band five years ago after returning to Ghana from the United Kingdom where he was domiciled and was playing with a jazz group around London.

The leader and founder of Bawasaba said he played in London, Poland, France and Germany with a group called Boombaya band which had left an indelible mark on the Afro-Jazz music scene.

?When I returned to Ghana, I did a little research about music and discovered that though jazz music had a lot of patrons and enthusiasts, little was known about it?, he explained.

Bawasaba Band based at their Odo Rice Jazz Club at kokomlemle, is about to embark upon a West Africa tour to showcase their new releases.

The group includes Mallam Isaka on the guitar, Seth Amamoo on Keyboards, Emmanuel Ashiagbor on the bass guitar, Kofi Karikari, saxophone and Sir Isaac on trumpet.

?From the research, I also found out that the most accepted jazz from would be one that blended traditional Ghanaian indigenous tunes with Afro rhythms?, Afrikabi Aperh said, adding that his Bawasaba band is an eight-member group of guitarists, organists and drummers making all the difference.

Most popular among Bawasaba tunes, he said are ?Ofleejato?, ?Biokoye? ?Adabraka?, ?Sagonbio-goyaa?, TT Gave on assorted percussion and Chief Mahasly on vocal/flutes.

The Bawasaba leader and founder appealed to corporate bodies and organizations to assist the group to enable it to deliver the best on the jazz musical scene.