Ekow Shailo Since he started his professional music career about seven years ago, Ekow Shailo has always been referred to as the guy ?the guy who sings so much like Kojo Antwi.
That is a correct assessment because anybody who has heard him sing will immediately think that it?s the Maestro, he has the same sultry voice, he sings about love and also uses sweet and intriguing lyrics all characteristics of Kojo Antwi.
But that does not mean he is not talented enough, in fact the guy possesses great talent and again he has his own style. And if the successes of his albums are anything to go by, nobody can dispute the fact that he is a born musician.
He was discovered by Abib Records, the same record company that discovered Buk Bak in 1997 but it took him a full year to release his debut album in 1998 titled Adwoa Anaa. This album even though was not popular gave indications of what he could do and that attention needed to be paid to him .He followed it up with Ketepa in 1999. Ketepa got him wide acclaim and shot him to instant stardom. Ketepa the title track of that album became a very popular song at that time.
After three long years, he came out with Odo Nso another very good album but which unfortunately did not get the needed promotion to bring out the full potential of the musician and his abilities.
Now in 2004 two years after Odo Nso, he has released his fourth album titled Mr Pianist. One does not know why he allows a long break in between albums because he is really missed when he is out but judging by the quality of Mr Pianist, it has obviously done wonders
Mr Pianist is a good album by all standards and his fans will not be disappointed at all because he has not drifted too far from his normal style. It boasts of some very songs like Su, Ahomka Womu Abisiinia and Oye Adee Yie.
Su the first track on the album has good sound arrangement, funny lyrics, is in the Jama vein and is highly danceable. On it he taunts an ex-lover who jilted him and wants a come back to go and burn the sea and cry blood as he has got a new lover. The song opens with a chorus which is very catchy and is in Ga and goes like ?Ya Ni Oya Sha Nshoo? meaning go and burn the sea. It is a song that will be loved by most people and will easily be their favourite if not for anything but for its funny lyrics .As it is in the Jama vein, the drum are the most dominant instrument and features Blackface doing the interesting rap.
Ahomka Womu is a rendition of an old highlife song that goes by the same title originally performed by the Ramblers International Band. He borrows the chorus and rhythm of the song and infuses it with his own lyric which is beautifully done.
In the mid-tempo vein the normal characteristics of a Shailo album also with good sound arrangement, his voice as well as that of his backing vocals enhances the song greatly. He sings about getting ready to meet his lover if she is coming to see him.
Abisiinia is another good track and has hilarious lyrics with an interesting chorus .He talks about a lady whose body is very beautiful but character wise is very ugly and how he has been deceived. Talking about her, he tells of how she smokes, drinks and is lazy as well. It again features Blackface doing the rap.
Oye Adee Yie is a duet with a sweet voiced lady an is slow paced .He talks about his lover and how good she is and that even if he loses everything and he?s got her, he?s got everything. The passionate and emotional way they sing will pull the strings on everyone?s heart. The chorus is also a beautifully done work.
Other equally good songs on the album include Mr Pianist sung in English and features Madfish, Adwoa Mansah and County Don?t Spoil sung in Pidgin English .The quality of the songs are such that one will find it difficult to choose which song is a favourite.
All the song are written and composed by Ekow Shailo and Blackface was programmed at Shailo Shailo Music Studio and recorded at TLC studios with Zapp Mallet.
