Pat Thomas is one of the great veterans of west African music, and still in fine voice, as he proved with his rousing appearance at Womad this summer, and the release of last year’s new studio album. Now comes a reminder of his early days, with a two-album compilation subtitled Original Ghanaian Highlife and Afrobeat Classics 1967-1981. Several of the tracks were recorded with that other Ghanaian star, the composer, singer and guitarist Ebo Taylor, and range from their early work together in the Broadway Dance Band to the glorious, rolling duet Ma Huno. Thomas has a fine, easy style and has the ability to cover whatever his audience demands. So there is a reggae from his time with the Sweet Beans (a band backed by Ghana’s Cocoa Marketing Board), along with soul ballads. But the best tracks are the easygoing, gently driving dance favourites such as Mewo Akoma.
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