The flutist Yaw Dela Botri founded the Hewale Sounds group in 1996, and he is now considered an absolute master, virtuoso of atenteben, that’s the name of the traditional wooden flute of Ghanaian music. Alongside his ensembles, he participates in numerous festivals across Europe and the United States, with a repertoire that includes both original compositions as well as traditional music, with forays into high-life, afrobeat and juju music.
The new Hewale Sounds project, released by MusicXChange, is recorded in Accra during the lockdown (which inevitably gives the title to the first song!), and it can be found on Bandcamp or on our online store as an exclusive 12” vinyl record!
Three songs on each side and, after the introduction, "Odo", places us in a landscape of the sweetest, with the incredible intro of the atenteben flute: the sound of Africa is right there, just around the corner, all the members of the group are as inspired and knowledgeable as they are discreet and willing to share the music with their audience! The third, enchanting piece "Bani" also feature an excellent performance by Dela Botri, and an opportunity to remark how Dela is the first to be able to play the entire chromatic scale on the atentebem.
The vinyl is turned and the afrobeat groove of "Fela" arrives, an explicit homage to Kuti's saxophone, even if the theme is always performed on the flute. Estrangement and wonder are assured before Evans Aduful enters with his guitar: it almost seems to listen to Abraxas, that is, the Carlos S. of Abraxas! With "Novinye Wo” on track five, from the Black President’s Nigeria we return to a more properly Ghanaian rhythm, also decidedly possessed and inspired, but with that joyful frenzy which the record is soaked through from top to bottom.
The rest of the group is also in great shape here: Okoe Amatefio on kpanlogo drum, Emmanuel Ohene on gankogui and axatse, Beda Ehrensperger on electric bass, Katrine Suwalksi on saxophone, David Odoum Jr. on drums. The closure is entrusted to Nana Eba, with a yoruba juju perfume: always great, great music from Planet Afreekah!
