’When shall we get to Paradise?,’ Amandzeba kept asking in his slow-paced politically-tinged introductory song in the foyer of the National Theatre last Saturday night.

The answer the excited dancers and seated audience expected him to realise for himself was that they were already in a highlife Paradise, having soaked up generous doses of the infectious rhythm before he came on.

Amandzeba was one of the performers at the Third Annual Highlife Concert put together by the New York University in Ghana and Heritage Development Consult.

Amandzeba is creating a beautiful aura for himself with his style of music. If Saturday was a test how he gets across to audiences with very different backgrounds, then one can say he passed well. Everyone enjoyed the time with him.

Other performers were the Adehye Dance Band, Ramblers International, Ebo Taylor, Gonje and Kojo Antwi.

Patronage was good which signified that the organisers are making some headway in their efforts to bring about a resurgence and greater appreciation of highlife.

One expected some long-winding academic deliveries from Professors Awam Amkpa, Academic Director of NYU in Ghana and Yaw Nyarko,Vice Provost of Globalization and Multicultural Affairs at NYU in New York when they were called by Akunu Dake of Heritage Development to officially welcome all to the function.

They also might have, like the audience, been anxious to see the programme take off because they only made brief remarks about NYU’s pride at hosting the event and the challenge of celebrating urban culture.

Good old highlife advocate, Jerry Hanson was there but Ramblers International, the band he diligently nurtured from the 1960s sports much younger players these days.

He looked on with admiration from the front row as his protegees got people dancing with tunes like Ama Bonsu, Swinging Safari, Ahumka Womu, Better Ni and Knock On Wood.

Guitar maestro, Ebow Taylor did only a song but it was tastefully dished out. Perhaps nobody anywhere fuses highlife riffs with jazz licks better than he does.

The positive transformation the Gonje Band has gone through was loud and clear to anyone who has been following the group’s progress since its formation two years ago.

There are now three young ladies who dance well, play the flute and sing in the frontline, arrangements are tighter and more appealing and the repertoire appears to be more expansive.

They make local instruments truly dance-friendly and it is a band that deserves wider recognition. Kojo Antwi was billed as the special guest performer and got a big welcome, especially from the younger folks in the audience.

He did what he always does quite satisfactorily but it was still obvious that he didn’t adequately fit the ocassion. He may be highlife-inclined in a way but the reality is that he leans heavily towards reggae.

The night was meant to celebrate highlife and all the acts, including the Adehye Band which warmed up the venue before the official start of the programme, lived up to expectation apart from The Music Man who will surely find his precise audience soon when he stages his once-a-year concert.

Highlife is beginning to experience some good times and one hopes the NYU and Heritage Development Consult will help the process by sustaining their annual highlife concerts.