Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammed - "Obra Akyedzi (Gift of Life)"

Photo by The Artform Studio

Back in 2023, Ghanian highlife and Afrobeat pioneer Ebo Taylor travelled to and performed in the US for the first time at the age of eighty-eight. While visiting the States, he worked with Jazz Is Dead producers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammed (of A Tribe Called Quest) on a new album. The first single off that album can be listened to, and it is quite simply fantastic. "Obra Akyedzi (Gift of Life)" goes far past the all encompassing "world music" label. It combines elements of Afrobeat with jazz and funk for a sound that is going to resonate with anyone who has a soul. The most astounding this is that Ebo Taylor was eighty-eight when he recorded it, and it sounds like a lost album from the 70's. Open your mind and check out the brilliance of "Obra Akyedzi (Gift of Life)."

Adrian Younge says of working with Ebo Taylor:

“Collaborating with Ebo Taylor is definitely a bucket-list accomplishment. For me, it is the equivalent of working with musical genius Fela Kuti, because of how much I have studied both of their work and influence on the genre of Afrobeat. Seriously, recording the genius to analog tape while highlighting the raw recording styles of 1970s Africa is a dream I never thought could come to reality! It was also great to work with Ebo’s son, Henry Taylor, who is a true musical force in his own right.” 

You can listen to "Obra Akyedzi (Gift of Life)" below. Ebo Taylor JID0022 is due out October 25 on Jazz Is Dead. For more on Ebo Taylor, check out the artist on Instagram. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.

Oct 9 - The Ford, Los Angeles, CA

Oct 11 - The Magnolia, San Diego, CA
Oct 14 - Revolution Hall, Portland, OR
Oct 15 - Neumos, Seattle, WA
Oct 18 - The UC Theatre, Berkeley, CA
Oct 20 - Metro Music Hall, Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 22 - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
Oct 24 - Radio/East, Austin, TX
Oct 26 - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
Oct 28 - Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 29 - Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL
Oct 31 - Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, CA
Nov 02 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
Nov 04 - Howard Theatre, Washington DC
Nov 07 - McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ

Nov 10 - Webster Hall, New York City, NY

Nov 15 - Autêntica, Belo Horizonte, BR*

Nov 23 - Casa Natura Musical, São Paulo, Brazil*

Nov 30 - Foro Indie Rocks! , Mexico City, MX*