Afieye Okropong

Drummer/vocalist Obo Addy and his Okropong band translate the indigenous music of Ghana into an indubitably appealing set featuring background vocalists and flutists. Addy is the son of a tribal medicine man, while being designated a master drummer at the tender age of six. With this release, he uses a variety of hand and stick drums along with small percussion instruments. Essentially, the musicians frame lilting melodies around the leader's pulsating rhythmic endeavors. The drummer documents each piece with historical/cultural tidbits, coinciding with his discourses on the various percussion instruments he utilizes. It's easy to follow along as Addy takes the listener on an in-depth journey. For example, the piece titled "Otufo Yoo" refers to the music that "accompanies a traditional puberty dance of the Ga people." One of the more noticeable highlights here resides within Addy's unwavering precision and distinct sense of jubilation. At times, the vocalists inject Afro-pop sensibilities into this rather festive program, one that celebrates the ethnocentric musical foundations of Ghana.