Ambrose Adekyoa Campell - London is the Place for Me

(Honest Jons HJRCDDJ21)

Featuring the music of the legendary Ambrose Campbell, from his West African Rhythm Brothers band of the 1950 and 60's. Campbell was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1919 and grew up singing in his father's church in Nigeria. He first came to the attention of London's early Jazz crowd in 1946 with the emergence of Britain's first black ballet company, Les Ballet Negres, Nigerian musicians headed by Campell accompanied the dancers on the London Stage. During the bleak post-war years in London, Campbell's band West African Rhythm Brothers (which featured many Caribbean musicians including Trinidadian Lauderic Caton, trumpeter Shake Keane and saxophonist George Tydale) were hugely popular within London's trendy Soho Jazz community in the 50's and 60's. The album features many of hits of the band when they performed in the Abalabi club in Soho's Berwick Street Market, London, during this period. 

Reviewer : Shaheera Asante

We Have It In Africa (clip)