Yen Ara

Ebo Taylor has spent a lifetime experimenting with different styles and attuning his music to keep up with the times, keeping his sound distinctive but fresh. At the ripe old age of 82 he did it again, recording a new album of mostly new material, in some cases adapted from traditional Asafo music, with a handpicked band of legendary local musicians from Saltpond, his hometown. As always, the tracks on this album demonstrate Taylor’s exceptional arranging: in opener “Poverty No Good” he combines relentless, rousing percussive loops and celebratory horns with stirring, somewhat plaintive vocals; “Mumudey Mumudey” is an electrifying, fast pace dance track built around call and response vocals and extended trumpet solos, while a strong disco beat runs through “Krumandey.” Further proof of Taylor’s unending ability to adapt and thrive in any musical style he chooses to explore.