Ghana’s Bright Osei and Soul Nice shine at Goethe-Institut virtual concert

It also follows Goethe-Institut Accra’s Jamming the Lockdown programme, which was launched to provide a platform for artists who remained creative despite the health crisis. GH Jazz Project, Dela Botri & Hewale Band, Constant Boty Band and the Akablay-led Kundum trio are among the respected names who performed on the platform.

Led by bassist, composer and songwriter Bright Osei, the Soul Nice band rendered diverse individual compositions including ‘Funky Jamestown’, ‘Praise Him/Funk in the Air’, ‘Worry Not’ and ‘You Don’t Want to Know’. Saxophonist Anthony Ansah, drummers Anthony Adubofour and Kenneth Obi and pianist Nicholas Mettle constitute the other members of Soul Nice. Despite their outstanding chemistry together, Osei noted that “everybody is an artist on his own.”

Through enchanting improvisation and a rich blend of cross-cultural rhythms, the musicians illustrated their collective competence and mastery in what Goethe-Institut Accra director Heike Friesel described as a “series of jazz tunes that are dramatically fused with Ghanaian rhythms, thereby creating a new sound full of energy and vibe.”

The band’s performance was also coloured by remarkable passion and enthusiasm. “We are very happy to get this opportunity to entertain you,” Osei said.

The performance – a little over 40 minutes long – was also interspersed with a series of harmoniously crafted solos and the deployment of hyper-funk textures and instinctive saxophone lines. Additionally, Osei, Mettle and Ansah’s emphatic lines were heightened by Adubofour and Obi’s skilful drumming, with a cosy wash of stage lights augmenting the poignancy of the showcase.

Meanwhile, Osei has toured extensively with highlife greats like Jewel Ackah, Paapa Yankson, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Dr Paa Bobo, Daddy Lumba, Ofori Amponsah and Kojo Antwi, among others. He also frequently performs with the based in Accra-based GH Jazz collective.

Watch the performance below: