The Swiss–Ghana Jazz Concert held at the +233 Jazz Bar & Grill on November 8 reaffirmed Highlife’s enduring relevance, with young musicians from Ghana and Switzerland showcasing the genre through vibrant reinterpretations.
The event featured performers from the Accra Jazz Academy and the Haute Ecole de Musique (HEMU) Jazz Orchestra. Their setlist leaned strongly toward Highlife, offering fresh arrangements of works by Pat Thomas, C.K. Mann, Safohene Djeni, Nana Kwame Ampadu, P.K. Yamoah, and the Ramblers.
Thomas Dobler, composer, arranger, bandleader, and lecturer at HEMU, directed the night’s performance. He said the repertoire was curated to reflect the strengths of the ensemble.
“So the repertoire was chosen according to the people I had. I wanted to do a really popular programme with the young musicians on the night, and I think it went well,” he stated.
Dobler’s Ghanaian performers included a trombonist, two saxophonists, a trumpeter, and three vocalists. The Swiss contingent featured three violinists, a cellist, a saxophonist, a keyboardist, a bassist, and three singers.
Swiss vocalist Gaiane Ganter won over the crowd by performing in Twi and Ga. She relied on online lessons and coaching from members of the Ghana Jazz Foundation to refine her delivery.
Beyond Highlife, the programme also included refreshed takes on classics from the Commodores, Nina Simone, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, and the Bee Gees.
HEMU students have been visiting Ghana since 2022. This year, they performed not only at +233 but also at the Accra Alliance Française, the Swiss Embassy, and the University of Cape Coast.
Established in early 2024 by the Ghana Jazz Foundation, Thomas Dobler Music, and the +233 Jazz Bar & Grill, the Accra Jazz Academy seeks to promote music education and enrich Ghana’s cultural landscape.
Ghanaian saxophonist and Academy tutor Bernard Ayisa expressed satisfaction with the concert, noting the skill and confidence displayed.
To him, the performance reaffirmed Highlife’s boundless potential and the importance of continuous exploration to elevate the genre internationally.
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