Blog December 9, 2014
Afropop Premiere: Ebo Taylor "Ko Ma Me Nko"
We are very pleased to premiere a previously unreleased track, "Ko Ma Me Nko," from Afro-funk innovator Ebo Taylor, whose music and cultural importance we highlighted in 2012 on our program Hip Deep Ghana 1: Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-Funk.
This track, a rolling 6/8 jaunt, comes to us via Dr. Amos Anyimadu, consultant to Ebo Taylor and Essiebons Music, of master Ghanaian producer/engineer/record-label-owner Dick Essilfie Bondzie. Anyimadu currently manages the Essiebons Soundcloud which presents plentiful, excellent, vintage funky highlife and Afro-funk from artists like Bob Pinodo, Gyedu Blay Ambolley and C.K. Mann, all produced by Essiebons. He has plans to put out treasure troves of previously unreleased or unreissued material from the golden age of Ghanaian Afro-funk, so definitely stay attuned to his work! This is what Anyimadu has to say about the group that recorded this track:
"Ebo Taylor put together a super recording group in the 1980s. They recorded the famous second version of "Love and Death," "Sack the Devils," etc. Pat Thomas was usually on vocals but this track was sung by Ebo Taylor himself. Gilbert Amartey Amar on bass. Ebo Taylor on guitar. Abee Mensah on keyboard. Asee on Drums. Father Ways on Congas and the Uhuru three on horns: Arthur Kennedy on trumpet, Abonyewa on tenor sax, and George Ammisah on alto sax. This was only a recording group and did not have a name."
Anyimadu informs us that Essiebons intends to release this track and more on an upcoming Essiebons compilation, Best of Ebo Taylor, Vol. Two, with a projected release of June 2015. Stay tuned!