Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers - Majo Highlife / Adara (Audio)

Ginger Johnson and his African Messengers
Album: African Party

Sincere thanks to Bacoso for the vinyl rip and post of this great highlife treasure.

Visit Bacoso at:
http://orgyinrhythm.blogspot.com

Born Folorunso Johnson in Lagos, Nigeria, Ginger got his nickname because the hot sun turned his hair red and brought out his freckles. Possibly there is some Celtic blood in him, but he only admits to African and Brazilian heritage.

Leaving home during World War II, Ginger became a sailor and his roaming took him to most jazz clubs of note in the world. Finally he came to England, and during the 1950's played with such names as Paul Adam, Harry Parry and Edmundo Ros. Forming his own Afro-Cuban band was the next step , and so the African Messengers were born. " All the music that we do is based firmly on African traditions," Ginger says. "So is rhythm and blues - but we try to get nearer the source, right down to the grass roots of the jungle - the sun, the heat, the insects, the abundance of life.

And we overlay the whole with jazz - saxophone, guitar, brass, flute, and sometimes piano - because jazz is also derived from the old sources of Africa." Part of the compulsive beat is supplied by the 'talking drum' once used in the famous 'bush telegraph' system. The equivalent of the bass in Ginger's band - although he also uses an electric bass guitar - is the 'bush piano' a box-like instrument of wood fitted with thin metal tongues, which when flicked with the thumb, vibrate and give off thrumming bass notes.

But Ginger's favourite instruments are his elephants feet. The elephant was killed by hunters in South Africa more than 100 years ago. The feet were hollowed out and covered with skin to form drums, and Ginger has played them for many years. They are prominent on several of his most famous songs.

'Excerpts from sleeve notes by Frank Smyth, taken from the album Ginger And His African Messengers African Party.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ginger
• johnson
• highlife
• nigeria
• yoruba
• naija
• juju

[BABAKAKAKI]

Explosive! lots of energy! this is grovy highlife. this is a version of highlife that's extreme! if i were alive in the '50s i would surely be playing in his band. everytime i listen to this piece i feel like picking up my trumpet and blasting away....lots of vibe...lots of energy. this is a good discovery. another great contributor to our great highlife heritage. my band would be doing this piece next weekend for sure. and yeah....i am in Toronto canada.... the last of my kind! love highlife.

[gangst1978]

Love this song, love my Grandad, bless up!!

[AfrikanGod1]

awesome music....

[zookat]

I never heard this before.  This is good! Thanks!