Rambling Vibes Band to bring live band music alive

Entertainment of Thursday, 29 January 2015

Source: Graphic Online

Rambling Vibes

The Osikan Ocean Rock Retreat located at High Street, Accra, will come alive on Saturday, January 31, when the Rambling Vibes, a 10-member piece band is launched.

The band, founded by Jerry Hansen Jnr, a son of the late Jerry Hansen of the Ramblers band which was popular in the 1960’s, is set to change the face of live band music in the country.

The launch will attract performances from artistes such as Okyeame Kwame, Adane Best, Wulomei and Alpha Waves.

With the emergence of music genres like hip life and hip-pop onto the Ghanaian musical scene, authentic live band music suffered a setback some few years.

But despite the threat live band music suffered from the popularity of these electronically engineered sounds and rhythm, it stood the test of time and the spring up of many in recent years is evidence of its soaring interest among the youth.

Speaking in an interview with Showbiz on Monday, Mr. Jerry Hansen Jnr, who has played with the Ramblers band for 20 years, said the launch of the Rambling Vibes is to reconnect “the new and old generation through music”. He said it is the right time since live band music has “resurrected” in the last few years.

“In the 1960’s and the years after, bands like Classique Vibes, Western Diamonds, Ahenfo and Ramblers were mostly spotted at the pubs and other places but the trend changed until recently when it was revived.

“But the same cannot be said today when you drive through town on a Friday night. Even a drinking spot in a little corner has a live band,” he stated.

He said that even though bands are noted for playing highlife music, Rambling Vibes is set to depart from the norm by “bringing continental experience to live band music”.

“Live band music is authentic and those who love it are mostly attracted by the use of organs, guitars and other instruments, giving the audience a better musical feel than recorded CDs and when it comes to good music, Rambling Vibes has the experience. The foundation has already been laid,” he said.

Formed in August last year, the Rambling Vibes has been performing at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Mr. Hansen Jnr is hopeful Saturday’s launch will bring much prominence to the group.

He told Showbiz that the band will hit the studios to record its own songs after gaining some recognition through its performances.

In 1961, a saxophonist, Jerry Hansen, with the help of some of the members of the famous Black Beats formed the Ramblers International Band which later turned out to be the ‘craze’ in the 1960s.

The band which was made up of 15 members and led by Jerry Hansen, was behind popular hits like Ama Bonsu, Ahomka Wom, Auntie Christie, Swinging Safari, Better Ni and a host of others.

And it is such a legacy that Jerry Hansen Jnr hopes to revive with the Rambling Vibes band.