Mohammed Alidu comes with ‘All In 1 Love’
Tamale-born internationally-acclaimed percussionist, Mohammed Alidu, is on a global mission to sell his brand of modernised Ghanaian traditional music.
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His latest album of 11 songs titled ‘All In 1 Love,’ is further demonstration of how serious he is to position himself as an ambassador of true fusion music from Ghana.
Founder and director of the Bizung School of Music and Dance in Tamale, Alidu has just returned from a tour of Spain and Italy where he included material from the new album in his repertoire. The album was recorded at Alidu’s Bizung Studio in Tamale and Grand Street Studio in New York, United States.
Alidu’s favourite percussion instrument is the hour-glass talking drum (dondo) and it is heard clearly on ‘Aikaso,’ the album’s opening track. It is a fast-paced, percussion–driven piece that showcase’s the man’s distinct, passionate vocal approach.
The song contains elements of reggae and highlife with accentuated guitar phrases but the core is Dagbani music from northern Ghana.
Aware of his substantial international following, Alidu incorporates varying styles in his music.
‘Biyelya,’ for instance, is a slow, bluesy track that blends elements of American Deep South musical traditions with traits from Ghana’s savannah region.
The song likely to be the favourite of many listeners is ‘Prayer.’ Featuring Pato Banton, a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England, the piece lifts the album to a spiritual realm as it gives “thanks to the heavenly father for all the wonderful things He does.”
Other tracks in the collection such as ‘Bambenya,’ ‘We Are Come,’ ‘Tabangtaba,’ ‘Only Love’ and ‘Bandanya’ testify that ‘All In 1 Love’ is a well-produced album worthy of attention by discerning music lovers.
Alidu and his band, The Bizung Family, will play at the +233 Jazz and Grill in Accra from 7.00 p.m. on Sunday, July 24.
