Gahu Media release - for immediate use July 2004
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.
ENDS