You’ve got to listen to this jazz piece.. really great!
The need to bring out an authentic and classic music into the African continent to impact the world, was borne out when two friends by name Isaac Marfo and Emmanuel Ohene(Brasag) whose trumpet instructor, Long John had always prompted them to come out with their own compositions.
On 5th March 2012, they went to Mr. LaryeaTorto of the National Symphony Orchestra to help them with the arrangement of the songs. Upon realizing that more compositions came out of their meeting, they decided to take coverage of two of their songs with a temporal group of musicians. These songs were Dangerous and Forget your troubles and dance, recorded on the 5th April, 2013 at the national symphony orchestra premises. The temporal musicians comprised of four brass men, four percussionists, one double bassist and a keyboardist.
On 5th June 2013, the need to form a permanent Jazz Band emerged through the efforts of Isaac Marfo who was able to fetch musicians to be members of the band. On the 16th of June 2012, the group met for the first time at the national symphony orchestra which is still the place where the band meets for rehearsals. The band meets twice a week, on Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6:00am – 9:00am in the morning. The first programme for the band was held at +233 Jazz Club in Accra on the 10th of December, 2013. The songs played were Unite the people (Otofoe Dance), Be yourself (highlife) and Judge Not (swing).
The name ‘251’ was suggested by Seth Kwasi Klutse of Big Shot Band. 251 is a chordal movement or musical notes. 2 stands for chord II, 5 stands for chord V and 1 stands for chord I. In terms of note, 2 stands for ray, 5 stands soh and 1 stands for doh. The idea of the name is closely linked to harmony in music, hence the need to be united in whatever we pursue as human beings.The group comprises of the following musicians:
ISAAC MARFO – 1ST TRUMPET
EMMANUEL OHENE (BRASAG) – 2ND TRUMPET
LARYEA TORTO – TROMBONE
FELIX COBLAVIE – DOUBLE BASS
J.K. NTUMY(LONG JOHN) – KEYBOARD
ANYEE ANNAN – PERCUSSION
FRANK KISSI – DRUM
VISION OF THE GROUP
The vision of the group is to bring to fore the rich African culture with its music and dances in order to make the rest of the continent aware that Africa and for that matter Ghana, is very proud of its cultural heritage.
MISSION OF THE GROUP
To bring into mind the need to make people aware of themselves on what God purposed in them to accomplish.
To bring the Jazz language in the African style to suite the world.
To bring together musicians to contribute their quota to the development of music in their motherland.
That the world will know that something good can come from Africa.
Through music, Ghana will be the limelight of the world.
The group which had its first anniversary on the16th of June 2014,is poised for action with the intention of bringing the world together through music
MOTTO: UNITE THE PEOPLE
PROFILE OF MUSICIANS
ISAAC MARFO
Isaac Marfo has been playing the trumpet for fifteen years under the instructions of Kofi Bilson, George Amissah, Long John, Orlando Julius, and LaryeaTorto.
He started playing with “Omaniaba” dance band and Cultural troupe. He later joined “Obadzen Cultural troupe and, Megastar band. In megastar, where he played for “Amakye Dede”, he was sacked from the band because of his incompetency in playing the trumpet. He moved to Gold Nuggets where he met George Amissah (a saxophonist) and uncle Ato (drummer). He was strongly advised by uncle Ato to play in a jazz band. He was therefore introduced to Kwasi Danquah, the leader and founder of the “Dzidudu” Jazz Band. The band was folded up, and Kwasi Danquah led him to Akpe who had formed the “Bawasaba” Band. Through his encounter with the band that he met Assabri Quaye, a renowned percussionist. His experience in playing Jazz Band motivated him to team up with well-disciplined and seasoned musicians to form the 2. 5. 1. Jazz Band.
LARYEA TORTO
LaryeaTorto is a trombone player with the Ghana National Symphony Orchestra Accra, and also an accomplished saxophone player.
He has been a music teacher for Assembles of God church Dansoman.He formed and led Quest Que C’est for Dance Band for four years, and he arranges Jazz, Reggae, Highlife, and Traditional Music for dance band and symphony orchestra. He has also been a saxophone instructor on part time at Lincoln community school Accra for four years.He is a grade 8 certified musician whose instructor the late Dr. Emmanuel Boamah of University of Ghana prepared him very well to pass his grade 8 course. He now arranges, composes and a trombonist for 251 Jazz Band.
FELIX YAW COBLAVIE
He started guitar with Charles Lamptey a veteran Ghanaian guitarist and continued to study Jazz guitar with Zebrede Pimdi a Cameroun union jazz bassist in Douala Cameroun. He did music theory with university of Ghana music department and had his grade 5 in A.B.R.S.M. He is a double bassist at the National Symphony Orchestra and the 251 Jazz Band all in Accra, Ghana. He plays both Classical and Jazz music.
FRANK KISSI
He started playing drums at age 10 (ten) from church.He has also played with Megastar for four months, he went to tour in Belgium for three months with “Mpesempese” Band. He has also played with both local and international artiste including Lira, Tumi, Garth Taylor in South Africa, Abraham Wilson (a trumpeter) in UK, Meewey in Cote D’voire. He also played with Kojo Antwi for three years after his tour from Belgium.He also plays at Alliance Française with Ary Morris in Accra, Ghana. He also plays at +233 Jazz Bar with victor Dey (pianist) every Tuesday. He also the drummer for 251 Jazz Band.
ARYEE ANNAN
He has been playing the percussion for the past 20 years.He first joined the Gospel Bombers. He later moved to Biggies Band and also with Ayawaso Cultural band. He now plays with 251 Jazz Band as a percussionist. Aryee Annan who was born in a musical family also has a senior brother by name Akuffo, a renowned percussionist and a member of soul winners band, a popular gospel musical group in Accra, Ghana.
EMMANUEL OHENE (BRASAG)
“Brasag” comes from Adiewoso, a farming community in the Western Region of Ghana. He attended Toku International School in Abura, two miles away from Adiewoso, and later went to Adiewoso D/C primary school when his former school was folded up. When he was promoted to
Class six he left Adiewoso and went to stay with his sister (Hannah Ohen) and her husband (Edmund Mensah) in Takoradi. He attended Nazareth Foundational School where he had to be sent to class four because of his inability to speak and write English fluently. He later went to Airforce complex junior secondary school. He had his secondary education at Mfantsipim School. At Mfantsipim School, he took keen interest in music and was a proud and dedicated member for Joyful Way Incorporated. School choir, (“Kwabotwe Vibes”} and cultural society, He was inspired to play the trumpet by Isaac David Ansah who happens to be the trumpeter for “Kwabotwe Vibes”. After completing Mfantsipim School, ‘Brasag’ stayed in Cape Coast to start his trumpet lessons with IsaacAnsah. By God’s grace he met Isaac Odoi,Geoff Anno,Joana, Kingsley Ampofo,Bright Osei,Abizie,Osab,Justice,Isaac Marfo and LaryeaTorto who also took him through trumpet lessons.
His understanding and commitment to playing the trumpet started when he joined Joyful Way Incorporated in Accra and met musicians and mentors who really groomed him musically and spiritually. Brasag holds a Bachelor of Arts (music major) at the University of Cape Coast with the aim of becoming a lawyer, On campus he played for groups like Joyful Way Incorporated (Cape Coast Branch), F.O.J and Mass Choir.
His encounter with Akosua (a lecturer of history) and Eric Otchere Debrah (a course mate) at the university, made him convinced that he has to take music seriously rather than pursuing law as a career. He taught at the university of Cape Coast primary school as a music teacher and the regimental band director from 2008 – 2009. He asked God to direct him to someone who can instruct him on the trumpet for him to become a world class trumpeter. He was under the tutelage of Long John for four years (2009-2013) It was at the camp of Long John that he met Isaac Marfo to team up strongly to compose Jazz songs fused with African Dances to showcase to the world about African music and dances.
Brasag has been a trumpet instructor for Lincoln Community School in
Accra for two year (2010-2012). He is a music consultant and music teacher for Joyful Way Incorporated. He is also a trumpeter for the evergreen 251 JAZZ BAND.
JOHN KENNEDY NTUMY (LONG JOHN)
John Kennedy Ntumy has been in the music scene for the past 20 years, He hails from Hoehoe in the Volta Region of Ghana. His interest in music started in his childhood days in Hoehoe when he attended the Roman Catholic School. Due to his musical ability, he was made the band major for the Roman Catholic Regimental Band.
He later settled in Accra and was one of founding fathers of Charity Band. He has also performed with Amakye Dede, Zoom Band, Thomas Frimpong, Prof. Kofi Abraham, Kristo Asafo Band, Eric Agyemang. He also was instrumental in the formation of the supreme Band with musicians like Kwasi Danquah, Nobert and Uncle Ato.
In 2011, he together with Fuseini formed the Big Twins Band.He was the music director for the group.He has also instructed musicians in playing the trumpet, the piano, guitar and the saxophone. He was also the regimental band instructor at Day Spring Montessori in Accra Ghana. John. K. Ntumy is an accomplished, trumpeter, pianist, saxophonist, composer and arranger for various music groups both in Ghana and Lome in Togo. He has also toured with musicians like Kobolo, Prof. Kofi Abraham, Thomas Frimpong, Dela Botri and the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
He is currently the pianist for 251 Jazz Band based in Accra Ghana.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name : 251 Jazz Band
Country of Origin : Ghana
Telephone : +233 243 160 882
Email/facebook : isacc.marfo@yahoo.com
Membership : Seven (7)
ISAAC MARFO – TRUMPET
EMMANUEL OHENE (BRASAG) – TRUMPET
LARYEA TORTO – TROMBONE
J. K. NTUMY (LONG JOHN) – PIANO
FELIX COBLAVIE – DOUBLE BASS
ARYEE ANNAN – PERCUSSION
FRANK KISSI – DRUMS
PLACE OF REHEARSAL: National Symphony Orchestra in Accra, Ghana
TYPE OF MUSIC: JAZZ FUSED WITH AFRICAN DANCES
PROGRAMMES ATTENDED:
GHANA MUSIC WEEK
JAZZ FESTIVAL ORGANISED BY: +233 Jazz Bar In Collaboration With Alliance Francaise.
TARGET AREAS: National Events, International Events, Music Festivals, Seminars, Music Workshops, Lectures, T. V and Radio Shows, Global Youth Empowerment through Music.
