Live Band Brings Out the Music: Peter Somuah

Walter Sena
By
Live Band Brings Out the Music: Peter Somuah
Peter Somuah
Ghanaian-born trumpeter, Peter Somuah continues to cement his place as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz. Known for his warm, melancholic tone and rhythmic depth, Peter Somuah’s music reflects both the influence of trumpet heroes like Freddie Hubbard and Roy Hargrove and the rich musical heritage of West Africa that shaped his upbringing.

Peter Somuah’s journey with the trumpet began in church when he was teenager. What started as a curiosity quickly grew into a lifelong calling. He spent hours listening to the greats, training his ears, mimicking phrasing and slowly building a sound uniquely his own. Today, that sound has become his signature expressive, soulful and unmistakably Ghanaian.

Appearing on Culture Daily’s Morning Bite segment with the Culture Squad, Peter Somuah was candid about the challenges young musicians face, especially in Ghana. He described the country’s music landscape as very difficult to get into, citing structural barriers, limited opportunities and the lack of institutional support for emerging instrumentalists.

During the conversation, the Culture Squad and Peter Somuah also delved deeply into the roots of Highlife and the importance of Ghanaians staying authentic in their musical identity, something Peter Somuah embodies naturally through his fusion of jazz and traditional rhythms.

Despite these challenges, his story is one of persistence and evolution. After relocating to the Netherlands, he began building his personal brand and expanding his artistic reach. Since then, he has released three albums and revealed that a fourth is on the way, expected next year.

Even after touring the world, Peter Somuah says his Ghanaian essence remains at the heart of his artistry. “My Ghanaian sound hasn’t changed, what has changed is the sound of my trumpet,” he shared. Fifteen years of playing have refined his tone, broadened his expression and expanded the emotional range he commands on stage.

For Peter Somuah, nothing compares to the power of live performance. “Live band brings out the music,” he said. This belief fuels his performances with the Peter Somuah Group, the five-member band that travels with him and energizes his compositions with raw spontaneity.

Yet, one of his most striking revelations was his acknowledgment that his music receives more appreciation abroad than at home, a familiar reality for many Ghanaian instrumentalists whose work resonates strongly in jazz-loving communities across Europe and beyond.

Still, Peter Somuah continues to champion Ghanaian identity wherever he goes, carrying the rhythms, stories and spirit of home in every note he plays. And as anticipation builds for his next album, one thing remains clear: Peter Somuah is only beginning to unveil the fullness of his musical universe.

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