Living the High-Life!

Nope. This isn't a beer commercial or a commentary on the "420" lifestyle. High-Life is the common name for the African fusion, Euro-inspired, big band, Latin flavoured music of Ghana and Nigeria.

As Jazz exploded in the U.S in the 1920s and 1930s, so too High-Life emerged onto the African scene. Tribal rhythms and regional drum languages began merging together to create a unified sound. At the same time, these native beats were being incorporated in the French music popular through colonization. As quickly as the "ruling" nations brought their music to Africa, African musicians adapted it and made it their own.

High-Life continued to evolve during the 1940s and 1950s with more emphasis on guitar based riffs and a popular dance style of High Life. After Ghana gained independence in 1957, the government ushered in a new era of folk or traditional music, but high life remained popular.  E. T. Mensah was one of the most popular and well known High Life musicians and his band The Tempos were even seen at State Events. Guy Warren, The Tempos band leader, is best known for introducing Caribbean music to Ghana which also fused into High Life. 
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Although it has incorporated many world beats, High Life still remains rooted in basic drum language and rhythms. One can start playing a High Life beat and it is instantly recognizable to other drummers.

Pagan Sounds has recently been introduced to this style and we are loving it!

Happy Drumming...