''Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz'' is the fifteenth studio album by South African trumpeter

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

. It was recorded in

Lagos, Nigeria Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

, and released in 1973. The track "Languta" was later included in his 2004 album ''

Still Grazing ''Still Grazing: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela'' is an autobiography book by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was released on May 11, 2004 by Crown Archetype. The book was written together with D. Michael Cheers. In this book, Mase ...

''.

Background

Hedzoleh Soundz were a band from

Accra, Ghana Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...

formed in the late 1960s. The word ''Hedzoleh'' means freedom in the

Ga language Ga is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, in and around the capital Accra. There are also some speakers in Togo, Benin and Western Nigeria. It has a phonemic distinction between three vowel lengths. Classification Ga is a Kwa language, part of ...

. The album contains eight tracks: six are written by Hedzoleh, one by Masekela, and one is traditional. Their original melodies were based on traditional Akan and Ewe music and employed dark, organic-sounding African drums instead of modern western congas. Hugh Masekela was introduced to Hedzoleh by

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...

. In addition to this album, Masekela recorded two more with Hedzoleh: ''I am Not Afraid'' and ''

The Boy's Doin' It ''The Boy's Doin' It'' is the seventeenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in New York City and in Lagos, Nigeria, and released in June 1975 via Casablanca Records label. The album was re-released on CD in 1 ...

''.

Track listing

Personnel

*Congas, vocals – James Kwaku Morton *Congas, vocals, flute – Nat "Leepuma" Hammond *Design, cover –

Milton Glaser Milton Glaser (June 26, 1929June 26, 2020) was an American graphic designer. His most notable designs include the I Love New York logo, a 1966 poster for Bob Dylan, and the logos for DC Comics, Stony Brook University and Brooklyn Brewery. In 1954 ...

*Drums – Acheampong Welbeck *Electric bass, vocals – Stanley Kwesi Todd *Engineer – Rik Pekkonen *Guitar – Richard Neesai "Jagger" Botchway *Mastered by – Arnie Acosta *Percussion, vocals – Samuel Nortey *Producer – Stewart Levine *Talking drum, vocals, percussion – Isaac Asante *Bass guitar- Isaac Paajoe Amissah-Aidoo

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1973 albums Hugh Masekela albums Albums produced by Stewart Levine Blue Thumb Records albums