Gahu Media Releases
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 8:20 pm

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Dougal Records presents
A Celebration of African music
Kinka Drum ensemble
Playing traditional rhythms of Ghana, West Africa
Album Release Party
Gahu
World jazz of Aotearoa
and DJ Joe
Brix Bar & Cafe 280 K'Road
Saturday September 18 9.30 til late

The music of Kinka is an exciting and energetic event, bestowing performers and audience with strong feelings of well - being. Lead drummer Yaw (YB)Boateng directs the changing rhythms while improvising, singing and dancing.

Yaw Boateng grew up in the Volta region of Southern Ghana and the Ashanti capital of Kumasi. He came to New Zealand in 2003 to study at Unitec in Auckland. He met Bud Hooper there and discovered that Bud had been to Ghana to study drumming only 50 miles from his home village.

Bud is the director of the Gahu Drum and Dance Society of Aotearoa formed in 1993 under the guidance of master drummer and dancer Godwin Agbeli from the village of Kopeyia in southern Ghana. The group focuses on the study and performance of traditional polyrhythmic ensemble drumming, dancing and singing of West Africa.

The performance group consists of up to a seven piece drum ensemble, each drum in the ensemble holds a 'support' or 'answer' rhythm which combines with the other drum motifs producing an exciting music of rhythmic sophistication. The lead drum, while playing within an improvisatory context, directs the changing rhythms.

Helen Clark speaking at the “...very first Ghana Day celebrations in New Zealand... I think that what was happening on the stage there shows how special the bringing of new ideas and new customs to New Zealand can be.... what I love to see is people from different backgrounds coming here, mixing with the locals and producing new sights and sounds, I think that’s really special and that’s going to be the New Zealand of the future..”
Mt Albert Hall, Auckland March 7 2004

Gahu Media Releases
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:39 am

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This extraordinary band, Gahu, released their innovative album Hot Planet to high critical acclaim, spearheading a new style of New Zealand music, a style that rejoices in the name Afro-Kiwi. Graham Reid in the NZ Herald and Mike Mather of the Rotorua Daily Post both rate the music **** (4 stars) while John Kennedy from the Dominion awards ***1/2 stars and enthuses about a ‘confident and promising debut.

Gahu have been astounding audiences around the country by their unique rhythm-based approach to Jazz and World Music with exciting improvisation on modern and traditional instruments.

During July Gahu will be appearing at:
The Victoria Park Markets on Saturday July 10 12.30 - 3pm and Odeon Lounge, 3 Mt Eden Road, on Saturday July 17, 9pm start.

Performance highlights for Gahu in 2004 have been:
The very first Ghana Day celebrations in New Zealand where the Prime Minister said “I think that what was happening on the stage there shows how special the bringing of new ideas and new customs to New Zealand can be...mixing with the locals and producing new sights and sounds, I think that’s really special and that’s going to be the New Zealand of the future.”

Also, The National Jazz Festival in Tauranga, Hamilton Gardens Festival, Rotorua Streatfest and The ‘Live in the Libraries’ series for NZ Music Month. In 2003 Gahu played The Auckland Festival, Grey Lynn Festival, Jazz on Ponsonby and the K’Road Karnival.

The band leader is Bud Hooper who has studied Ghanaian music for over ten years. Bud plays drumkit as well as the Ghana ensemble drums which are his speciality. This is the basis of the polyrhythmic sound that is Gahu. The pulse is based around the irresistible call of traditional Ghana dance rhythms played by Bud and also special guest Yaw Boateng, a musician from Ghana who drums,sings and dances. These elements are combined with the sound of renowned kiwi guitarists Cadzow Cossar and Lance McNicoll while Jane McAllister on bass provides the fat and solid beats that define the group’s earthy groove. Ben McNicoll does some fine improvising on his saxophone.

Good quality photos for print available on request - electronic or hardcopy.
For more information www.gahu.co.nz
Bud Hooper Phone: 09 376 3365 or 021 424 801.
Email: [email protected]
Post: Box 230 MBE Ponsonby Auckland