Native Vibe
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Native Vibe

Ventura, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014

Ventura, California, United States
Established on Jan, 2014
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"Native Vibe Thrills At Jazzfest"

The audience laughed and then applauded as bassist Nee Sackey introduced guitarist Bill Macpherson, his colleague in the Native Vibe band, as “a long-time partner in crime.”

The two have played together for 15 years and if gelling so well with their jazz fusion style is a ‘crime’, then the pleasant audience at the Accra Polo Club last Friday didn’t mind more ‘crimes’ being committed by the pair and the five other ‘accomplices’ on the stage that evening.

The Polo Club concert was the only one played by the United States-based group and percussionist Vinx on their visit to Ghana for the Jazz Society of Ghana and Nook Entertainment Limited-organised Independence Jazzfest 2008 proggramme.

A scheduled appearance at the Africa Regent hotel the previous day was rained off.

Used as one of the fun parks during the 26th MTN Cup of Africa Nations (CAN) Ghana 2008, the spacious grounds of the Polo Club is turning out to be a congenial venue for outdoor events.

The audience felt free to sit, stand or walk around whilst the live music flowed. Food and drinks served from the El Gaucho restaurant on the premises lent a picnic atmosphere to the occasion.

It was a night of original music as Atongo and Gyedu Blay-Ambolley opened proceedings with their distinctive styles. Native Vibe played exuberant material from their old and recent collections.

The group defies categorisation because it cleverly merges several different approaches to popular music, though the underlying force is undeniably jazz.

It was the group’s third visit to Ghana and they have obviously generated some amount of following here.

Clear in their playing, however, is how they also seem to have closely scrutinised the music of 1970s jazz fusion greats like Herbie Hancock, Return To Foever, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea and Tony Williams.

Nee Sackey slapped, picked and thumbed his six-string bass guitar and Macpherson’s piercing solos occasional evoked memories of Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. Percussionist Marcel Adjibi added a real world music flavour to the sound with his array of ‘toys’ whilst keyboardist Kevin Flournoy and drummer Danny Campbell constantly laid down abundant textures for all to soar.

Vinx joined in with his rig of modern-age percussion together with Ghanaian saxophonist Steve Mensah.

The seven men collectively gave all something thrilling to remember about the nation’s 51st independence anniversary celebrations.

The President of the Jazz Society, Dr Sam Mensah, had earlier spoken about the activities of the outfit and the attention they are paying to jazz education for young musicians.

A member of the society, Nana Nyarko Ackah-Yensu, told Showbiz that they were happy the Polo Club concert went well and that they have plans to bring down other formidable artistes soon.

Albums by Native Vibe including their newest, Across The Globe and one recorded live in Accra during the band’s 2006 visit with Vinx, Live At Don’s Place Vol.1, were sold at the concert. - Modern Ghana


"Native Vibe "Mirage" - Album Review"

Best known for playing clubs in and around Southern California, Native Vibe is bound to break out even further one of these days if their releases stay as exotic and fiery as this wild collection. Led by guitarist Bill Macpherson (who was born to American missionaries in Zaire) and Ghanan bassist Nee Sackey, Native Vibe blends all the playful, rolling vocal and guitar joys of South African township music with all types of world percussion patterns and a mix of jazz ranging from smooth to harder core fusion. "Distant Memories" rolls joyously along, with Macpherson leading the way with a high toned gallop before a raucous percussion fill and a switch to a distorted electric guitar. Arlen Schierbaum adds a hopping bluesy harmony effect on keyboards and takes a shimmering organ solo. At nine minutes, this wacky opener also includes an extended percussion jam by Jason Hann. Sackey's moody "Teardrop" harkens back to the Steely Dan sound, with Macpherson leading with a crisp electric melody over the moody Rhodes harmonies of Schierbaum. The disc is for the most part quite the party, but there are a few more spiritual minded respites along the way, including the meditative seven minute exercise "A Peace Within." Native Vibe doesn't stay down for long, though. Once peace is achieved, the explosive, chant enhanced township blues gem "Kopje" rumbles in with amazing emotional power. Macpherson infuses the tribal vocal anthem "Black Silk" with a tough Santana vibe. - All Music


"Native Vibe"

Native Vibe is a high energy world music band that draws from it's collective roots to infuse their music with the rhythms of Africa and Latin America. Bandleader Bill Macpherson was raised in the Congo and exposed to traditional African music and translated those musical experience into modern jazz and jazz rock. Bassist, vocalist and co-bandleader Nee Sackey hails from Ghana, and comes from a musical and diplomatic background. Russ Gold is a fiery drummer who has been long associated with Native Vibe, recording with the group and touring with them including several of the band’s performances across West Africa. All 3 musicians are graduates of the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Salif Kone, a native of Mali, descends from a long line of griots and plays traditional West African instruments, as well as offering fluid jazz interpretations on his djembe. Kevin Flournoy is a much sought-after keyboardist who has performed with a long list of contemporary jazz and R&B artists as well as an extensive history as part of Native Vibe. Native Vibe was twice included in the Grammy vote, and has recorded 12 CDs featuring stellar musicians in addition to the core band. The Southern California-based band has thrilled audiences on numerous jazz and world music festival stages. Their latest CD, Across the Globe, sparkles with melody, inspiration and groove. Tonight’s debut at Yoshi’s promises a magical experience in which the band shines even brighter as they take their original music to new improvisational heights in live performance. Don’t miss this inventive, joyful, endlessly surprising evening with an ensemble guaranteed to make your spine tingle. Don’t forget your dancin’ shoes! - See more at: http://www.yoshis.com/oakland/jazzclub/artist/show/2525#sthash.C53rpZYg.dpuf - Yoshi's


Discography

Medicinal Purposes (1996)
Spirits (1999)
Mirage (2000)
Luna de Nosara (2005)
Toca Suave (2005)
Across the Globe (2008)
In the Land of Muses (2013)

Photos

Bio

Native Vibe, is a high energy, eclectic world jazz group which blends Latin, African, and Caribbean flavor into a Funk and Rock recipe. Created by bassist Nee Quaison-Sackey and guitarist Bill Macpherson, Native Vibe boasts an impressive and international array of talented musicians & performers who share the stage to create Native Vibes’ vibrant live performances.

Nee and Bill were both born in the United States, spent their formative years in Africa, and graduated from the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. They met through mutual friends years later and began playing together while also pursuing solo careers.

Macpherson's “Jungle Party” won San Diego’s Best Independent Album Award, and was followed by “Many Rivers” while Sackey released “My Father’s Son, My Brother’s Brother” – also to rave reviews. It was then that Bill and Nee realized joining forces would increase their chances for success, and they formed Native Vibe in 1995. Their 1996 debut “Medicinal Purposes” featured their unique blend of sleek jazz and tribal rhythms and spent six weeks on Smooth Jazz’s radio charts. Subsequent recordings “Luna de Nosara” and “Across the Globe” both reached the first round of Grammy voting during their years of release.  

Native Vibe’s current recording, “In the Land of Muses” was released in October 2013 and was featured in the Smooth Jazz Top 50 during the summer of 2014. Native Vibe is currently touring in support of this extraordinary CD.

Band Members