Spirit of Ojah
It all started when I saw the market for ethnic music in Seattle so I decided to stop playing with the group I was playing with and to gather dedicated musicians around me. I’ve done this numerous times when I formed and managed my own international band but this was my first time doing this in America. The band is two and half years old. The musicians always tell me that they feel really free around me because I tell them the truth which other band leaders will not do. My answer to them always is, it is better to be fair to everyone than to keep things in your head without letting others know. In spite of that they all open their hearts to support the band and be with me.
I’m the drummer, Roger Ocquaye. My master was E.T. Mensah, one of the top professional trumpet players in West Africa. He brought me into his 12 piece band in 1968 and I remembered the first song on my audition was “Tiger Rag” by Louis Armstrong. It was really exciting that evening when I was 17 years old. I moved on to form my own band who played internationally and then while in Egypt I played with Samir Sabri who was a top Egyptian musician and film actor. So I have many internationally influences in the music I create. We develop and bring out many styles in the music we create for the Spirit of Ojah which is really danceable. People say our music is fun and is music which they can use to exercise their body. People dance with their babies, and children, or couples dance together; people really feel free to express themselves through movement to our music. In short, it is a HAPPY MUSIC, which is loved by both old and young. Some people who don’t even get up, move in their seats and dance with their heads.
In closing, we are located 20 miles north of Seattle and we will be very happy and flexible to work with any promoters, etc. who would like to book our band and we will work faithfully with them. Of course we now have a CD of our own and we trust the same promoters will help us to produce it. The title of this, our first CD, is “Fire and Love”.
“What music will get audiences up on their feet and feeling filled with love? It’s the rhythm and spirit of the ojah, fire and love, mixed into one. Ghanaian highlife, reggae and soukous provide beats and intonations masterfully composed by the artists in the Spirit of Ojah Dance Band. The lyrics are all about love, such as “I wanna love you”, “All my lovin’”, and “Mawe mawe” (I’ll be with you, I’ll be with you). The rhythms are agbarjar, kpanlogo, reggae, funk, highlife, soukous and more; adding fire to the soul.
The Spirit of Ojah is sure to please all day and all night long at festivals, concert halls and nightclubs. Bring a smile and a sway to communities everywhere by booking the Spirit of Ojah band.”
E-mail: spiritofojah@gmail.com
You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9HYedzsrNw
Event:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115462&id=82408100885&ref=mf
