The third edition of the Accra Jazz Academy (AJA) is in full swing and the two drummers out of the about 30 participants are enriching their general knowledge about the music and also picking up extremely useful tips from experienced drummer, Frank Kissi.
The AJA was initiated in early 2024 by the Ghana Jazz Foundation (GJF), the Switzerland-based Thomas Dobler Music outfit and the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill in Accra to help equip young musicians with a better appreciation and execution of Jazz.
This third instalment kicked off on Monday, October 20 and will end on Sunday, October 26 with a concert at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill.
Jazz drummers are usually the engine rooms of the acts or bands they perform with. They keep the beat in addition to improvising and creating instant rhythmic patterns to ‘converse’ with colleague players.
Drummer Frank Kissi has been playing those roles and more for several years and is the one assigned to give specific tutorship to Bismark Akwasi Sarpong and Kwame Osei Okyere at the ongoing AJA session.
Kissi is the regular drummer for the GHJazz Collective and the Black Lace Band. He also leads his own Electric Band. He has occupied the drum chair for many of Ghana’s leading acts including Kojo Antwi, Daddy Lumba, Efya, Becca, Sandra Huson, Rex Omar, Ofori Amponsah, Abiana, Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Amakye Dede.
“I have been telling the two young men about my musical journey and the things I do that have been helping me along the journey. We’ve also been touching on things that would help them understand Jazz a bit more in terms of time signatures, interplay with other instrumentalists and generally how to swing and be in effective control of their equipment at all times,” says Kissi.
The experienced drummer has also been breaking down specific songs for the young men and telling them that the things they hear on recordings by accomplished drummers are not through any kind of magic but by constant learning and practice.
Other tutors at this AJA session are saxophonist Bernard Ayisa, pianist Victor Dey Jr., vibraphonist Thomas Dobler from Switzerland, singer Sandra Huson and bassist Gaddiel Amoah.
Areas of Jazz being dealt with for the benefit of the participants include vocal techniques, improvisation and ensemble work as well as sight reading skills and effective practice routines.
A free concert featuring the AJA participants will come off from 8.00pm at +233 Jazz Bar and Grill on Sunday, October 26. The GHJazz Collective will also be in attendance.
(From left): Bismark Akwasi Sarpong, Frank Kissi and Kwame Osei Okyere after a session at the Accra Jazz Academy
