Pat Thomas
& Kwashibu Area Brand

“I’m an afrobeat drummer but Pat Thomas is highlife. That is what he does so well.” Tony Allen

We are proud to announce the brand new studio album by one of Ghana’s all-time great vocalists, “The Golden Voice Of Africa”, Pat Thomas, in conjunction with the Kwashibu Area Band led by multi-instumentalist Kwame Yeboah (Cat Stevens, Patrice) and saxophonist Ben Abarbanel-Wolff (Ebo Taylor, Poets of Rhythm).

Recorded in Accra and mixed at Lovelite Studios’ analogue HQ in Berlin, Thomas’ new album marks over 50 years making music and reunites him with old friends: Ebo Taylor provides horn arrangements, Tony Allen contributes drums to several tracks, Osei Tutu (Hedzolleh Sounds) plays a memorable trumpet solo and prolific 1970s bassist Ralph Karikari (The Noble Kings) also features.

Younger generation stars appearing include bassist Emmanuel Ofori, percussionist “Sunday” Owusu and Pat Thomas’ daughter Nanaaya, an acclaimed vocalist in her own right.

The album features new full band arrangements of original ‘80s Thomas classics ‘Gyae Su’, ‘Odoo Adada’ and ‘Mewo Akoma’. Abarbanel-Wolff explains: “By the mid-1980s, Ghanaian music had started to use digital production and the heyday of the “golden era” was over. With this album, we wanted to continue the tradition of the late ‘70s sound and bring the roots back.” Kwame Yeboah continues, “We had to create our own buzz, keep the sound totally real – there are no digital, machine or sampled sounds here.” – New compositions also feature, including the superb, yearning ‘Me Ho Asem’ and the infectious afrobeat jam, ‘Odoo Be Ba’.