Ossei Tutu: Awakening

From another stylistic corner, Ossei Tutu’s Awakening (Tinder 428548832; 53:32) is a solid dose of the broiling sound of African Highlife, fashioned and extended into other areas by the Ghana-born singer who courted his muse in the Parisian African music scene in the ’80s and has evolved over the years. This recording teems with the driving yet porous percussion, intricate guitar and pop and soul-inflected keyboard parts, and Frank Mweley’s impressive bass playing, all of which nicely accents Tutu’s light-spirited approach.

Originally Published May 1, 1999