Ebo Taylor

Guitarist, composer, bandleader, and producer Ebo Taylor was a central figure in African music. During the late 1950s he served with influential highlife bands the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band. During the '60s he produced other artists, while also exploring rhythms, modes, and styles for his own projects. On 1976's My Love and Music, he melded Ghanaian folk traditions with Afro-beat, jazz, and funk rhythms, then continued in that direction on 1976's Ebo Taylor, 1978's Twer Nyame, and 1980's Conflict Nkru! Taylor's work became popular internationally with hip-hop producers in the 21st century, leading to the release of Love and Death and 2012's Appia Kwa Bridge. Mr. Bongo released Yen Ara in 2018, while BBE delivered Palaver in 2021. At 88, Taylor traveled to the U.S. for the first time and worked with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad; resulting in 2025's Ebo Taylor Jazz Is Dead 22.