I like the latest tracks from Peter Somuah far more than 2023’s Letter to the Universe when I first became aware of the trumpeter.
The full album called Walking Distance from which several tracks are streaming so far is out in mid-March.
His profile since 2023 hasn’t been massive beyond mainland Europe although he has been picking up plenty of favourable nods. Maybe a broader awareness of his genuine talents and simmering, individual, jazz character will increase – certainly deserves to that is if the rest of the tracks are as appealing as ‘Roundabout’, ‘Nearby,’ ‘Crossroad’ – where the wah-wah-like licks make the feel woozy and laidback – and ‘Roundabout.’
His approach, which makes ample use of a fluttery, burnished tonal blur, is a little like Roy Hargrove, British player Mark Kavuma or even – in an ever increasing circle in a pan African jazz sense sometimes when he goes more crossover – Hugh Masekela.
Somuah has among other accomplishments worked on a project with the WDR Big Band playing his own compositions, arranged and conducted by Michael Mossman. Somuah explores the boundaries between jazz, funk, soul and traditional Ghanaian music.
- Somuah is playing Jazzahead in Bremen on 24 April among a range of dates in the Netherlands and Germany this spring.