International jazz maestro Earl Klugh lived up to expectation when he set the Accra international conference center on “fire” on the first of two nights of enthralling performances.
The maestro who touched down two days ago for the Stanbic Bank Ghana Jazz Festival promised to deliver nothing but the best and he did not disappoint.
The renowned guitar jazz player who recorded his first hit at 17 kept the auditorium filed with soothing but exciting music all-night long. For a weekday show the auditorium was packed and the applause and catcalls as well standing ovations that greeted the end of each performance was testament to the success of the event.
As a bandleader, session player, solo artist, composer and performer, Earl Klugh is well known for using the guitar as a melodic vehicle to express a range of emotions across a broad spectrum of genres.
His passion for music began with piano lessons when he was three years old; he started playing the guitar at age 10. After watching famous American guitarist and vocalist, Chet Atkins, play guitar on television about three years later, Klugh dedicated himself to studying Atkins’ recordings and practicing alongside his album while he developed his own style.
By 17, he had become a professional jazz player and joined George Benson’s band for a year before signing his first record deal.
Prior to Earl Klugh’s performance on the night, the legendary Ebo Taylor who was the show opener together with his band set the tone for what turned out to be an unforgettable night.
The billboard chart topper as is his trademark did not disappoint. Even playing with live band he held the audience spell bound with authentic Ghanaian music.
Ebo Taylor man has certainly not lost it and has few great years to go.
From the entrance of the venue right through to the foyer and beyond was sheer perfection. It was obvious a lot of planning had gone into the event and it showed.
It appeared as though the whole of Accra had converged on the conference center to see Earl Klugh perform. Cars were parked from the George Padmore library junction all the way to the Accra sports stadium.
Even the state house was not spared the job of housing cars for the night. MC for the night Nhyira Addo kept the atmosphere light and relaxed.
He couldn’t have put a foot wrong on the night. When the star of the nigh finally mounted the stage a hush fell over the auditorium and it stayed that way until the end of the first piece. After that it was a night of hit after hit.
True to the hype, Earl Klugh lived up to expectation keeping heads nodding and fingers playing imaginary instruments in time with the music.
At a glance all sides of the divide were represented form politics to the arts to entertainment and academics. Former President John Agyekum Kuffour and the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo were present to soak in the music.
The managing director of the daily graphic Ken Ashigbey as well as Albert and Comfort Ocran were not left out. Veteran actor Fred Amugi and current occupant of the Kwame Nkrumah chair in African studies and award winning poet professor Kofi Anyidoho were present .Gabby Otchere Darko and the crème de la crème of Ghana would not be left out.
The event was well organized with every tinny detail taken care off. I do not know what Stanbic Bank did to fill up the Conference Center on a Thursday night but it worked and bringing Earl Klugh to Ghana was definitely worth it.
By: Afriyie Amoakoa Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana