The highlights of "Mood Swings" are its originality, smoothingness and musical variety: Ethiopian, jazz, reggae, African Soukous, ballads and more. Every song, as the title of the album insinuates, possesses its own mood.
The album's "Nostalgia" and "Visions of Love" account for a mellow mood, "Eskesta" and "Sweet Soukous" are upbeat songs, "Night Life" and "Urban Life" possess a jazzy groove and the romantic "Berhane Nesh" and "Hiwot" are more reflective.
"Endegena Degmo" has received high popularity for it's traditional yet modern feel. The last song on the album "All My Love" is a dance music produced in collaboration with a young and talented singer Yolanda Davis.
Nebiyu T. Kebede - 01 - Nostalgia (5:26) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 02 - Berhane Nesh (5:02) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 03 - Endegena Degmo (4:39) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 04 - Hiwot (4:28) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 05 - Eskesta (4:26) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 06 - Night Groove (4:12) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 07 - Visions of Love (4:30) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 08 - Urban Life (4:03) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 09 - Sweet Soukous (3:40) Nebiyu T. Kebede - 10 - All My Love (4:41)
Originally from Ethiopia, Ermias T. Kebede lived in different parts of the world including France and Italy. He currenly resides in the US, in the city of Chicago, IL.
Picked up the guitar in SJS High School in Addis Ababa and has been playing every kind of music since. He joined a variety of bands in his career, some of whose members have played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Ziggy Marley.
Currently a member of ABOGIDA band touring with Teddy Afro, he also runs his own independent label, ETK MUSIC, under which he has released two albums "Mystic Groove" and "Glimpse of Victory".
A combination of world, jazz and Reggae music like never mixed before, "Mystic Groove" transports you into the planes of strong rhythms and hypnotic grooves with subtle yet distinct melodies paving the way.
"My primary motivation for completing the project "Mystic Groove" is to bring forth the mystical rhythms of Reggae to a wider audience. I have always been moved by the subtle yet powerful rhythm of the "one drop" beat that mainly categorizes Reggae music from the rest. I believe different types of music affect different parts of the human self and Reggae goes right to the spirit"
Anbessa Orchestra is a 7 piece group from NYC that draws it's inspiration from the beautiful music of Ethiopia. Playing arrangements of Ethiopian funk tunes from the 60's-70's as well as original music with Ethiopian influences.
Beyond Addis is a collection of contemporary bands (compiled by J. J. Whitefield) inspired by Ethiopian music from the 70′s and features the likes of Akale Wube, Budos Band, Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra, The Heliocentrics and more.
The music of “Swinging Addis” of the 70′s was a clash of opposite elements: western instruments (drums, bass, guitar, horns) and the stylistic influence of Jazz, Soul, R&B and Rock’n’Roll bumping into traditional techniques of singing and composing, a legacy of Ethiopian popular music.
Mastermind of this revolutionary mix was Mulatu Astatke. Now, this compilation gives an overview of the work of young bands around the world inspired by Ethiopian music.
01. Akalé Wubé - Jawa Jawa (Alternate Take) (4:48) 02. The Heliiocentrics - Phantom of the Panther (2:21) 03. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Yefikir Woha Timu (4:52) 04. Budos Band - Origin of Man (4:54) 05. Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Ethio (3:43) 06. Woima Collective - Woima (3:16) 07. Les Frères Smith - La Marche Des Smith (5:55) 08. Karl Hector & the Malcouns - Girma's Lament (2:55) 09. Zafari - Addis Ababa (3:39) 10. Whitefield Brothers - Sem Yelesh (3:22) 11. Transgressors - Beyond Addis (4:03) 12. Tezeta Band - Drop It! (4:53) 13. The Shaolin Afronauts - The Scarab (4:55) 14. Debo Band - Trek from Ethiopia (Part 1) (4:59) bonus track - vinyl edition 15. International Ducks - The Green Cow (3:27)
Awesome Tapes From Africa are to reissue a third album by cult Ethiopian jazz pianist and synth pioneer Hailu Mergia. Writing on Facebook, the label say that Wede Harer Guzo was recorded with the Dahlak Band in 1978 in Addis Ababa, in the wake of Mergia’s 1978 success Tche Belew. Album is goiing to be released on June 17th 2016.
As a prelude to this long-awaited lost treasure, I am posting one of Hailu Mergia's "lost tapes", unknown instrumental album with Walias Band.
Walias Band - rare ethiopian groove
Walias Band (sometimes spelled Wallias Band; Amharic: ዋሊያስ ባንድ?) were an Ethiopian Jazz and funk band active from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. Formed by members of the Venus Band, Walias backed up many prominent singers with a hard polyrhythmic funk sound influenced by western artists like King Curtis, Junior Walker and Maceo Parker. In 1977 they recorded one of the few albums of Ethiopian instrumental music in collaboration with vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke, whose role as a bandleader and composer was also a major influence on Ethiopian popular music.
In 1981 Walias became the first modern Ethiopian band to travel to the United States, playing on a tour with singer Mahmoud Ahmed primarily to audiences of Ethiopian refugees. Four members—Girma Bèyènè, Mogès Habté, Mèlakè Gèbrè and Hailu Mergia—stayed in the U.S. and formed a new group called Zula Band in favor of returning to live in Ethiopia under its dictatorship. Mergia took work in Washington DC driving a taxi cab and released solo cassette tapes of traditional Ethiopian music played on analog synthesizer, electric piano and accordion. The remaining members—Yohannes Tèkola and Tèmarè Harègou—continued to play together under the Derg dictatorship for another decade.
In the late 1990s Walias Band found a wider audience in the west when the French label Buda Records reissued much of the group's music on the Ethiopiques series of compact discs. Their instrumental, "Musicawi Silt", became a popular dance number and has been covered by a number of artists.
The Walias Band's name derives from the walia ibex, an endangered species of the Capra genus native to the mountains of Ethiopia. They share no members with the similarly named Ibex Band who also backed up Mahmoud Ahmed during the same epoch.
Vocalists that Walias worked with included Getachew Kassa, Mahmoud Ahmed, Woubishet Fisseha, Alemayehu Borobor, Seyoum Gebreyes, Netsanet Mellessè and Tilahun Gessesse.
Imperial Tiger Orchestra is a Swiss group of modern popular Ethiopian music. Its name hints at the Imperial bodyguard band of the Halie Selassie era and Monty Python’s “Tiger in Africa” sketch. It was formed after a jam organized by Genevan trumpet player Raphaël Anker.The band has released three albums and played in Europe, Southern Africa and Ethiopia.It also worked with renowned Ethiopian musicians, like Endress Hassen or the singer Hamelmal Abate.
Imperial Tiger Orchestra & Hamelmal Abate
Arte Live Web / Cosmo Jazz 2012
When Imperial Tiger Orchestra first started unravelling the yarn of Ethiopian Music from the Golden Age (1969 – 1975), no one expected the thread to be so long and no one knew where it might end. Inspired by original albums that the band found while shopping for rare musical gems on a first visit to Addis Ababa in 2009, Imperial Tiger Orchestra released a first record in 2010, the aptly-named Addis Abeba, which explored Ethiopian music from the 70s – when traditional Ethiopian brass bands began feeding off American soul. The second release, Mercato, veered towards a more pop-inspired repertoire from the 80s, and the latest release goes one step further, taking the listener deeper into Ethiopian culture, from the unique sounds of the azmari repertoire to the hypnotic groove of the major tribes.
After three years touring Europe, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has acquired a solid reputation as a mighty groove machine. The band has also taken its acid riffs to the African continent, touring South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe back in 2010. Having been invited to Addis Ababa by the renowned producer of the Ethiopiques series, Francis Falceto, the Tigers were proud to meet many of the local musicians who work to reshape traditional Ethiopian music. Based in and around Geneva, Switzerland, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has also worked with musicians and dancers from the Ethiopian diaspora, receiving their rewarding approval and blessing for their own original take on Ethiopian music.
Afro-Zen Allstars' primary inspiration is the the haunting and danceable sounds created during Ethiopia's "Golden Age" (late '60's-mid '70's). This is music that takes hold of both mind and body and never let's go, and Afro-Zen Allstars present it in updated form with compelling new arrangements and world-class soloists.
Established by guitarist/arranger George M Lowe, Afro-Zen Allstars features the formidable talents of past and present members of such luminary Richmond ensembles as Bio Ritmo, No BS Brass!, Rattlemouth, Fado Nosso, Glows In The Dark, Hotel X, Monk's Playground, The Flavor Project, Ululating Mummies, and more.
Afro-Zen Allstars - Bemin Sebeb Litlash
CJ Alicea, drums Adrien Bayo, percussion Brian Cruse, bass John Lilley, alto and tenor sax George M Lowe, founder, guitar and arrangements Chris Sclafani, baritone and alto sax Chris Vasi, guitar Toby Whitaker, trombone Afro-Zen Allstars - 01 - Yekermo Sew (6:00) Afro-Zen Allstars - 02 - Lemon (Lomiwen Teqebeletch) (4:53) Afro-Zen Allstars - 03 - Netsanet (6:27) Afro-Zen Allstars - 04 - The Pillar of Truth (Yewnet Messosso) (5:00) Afro-Zen Allstars - 05 - Muziqawi Silt (6:27) Afro-Zen Allstars - 06 - Here Is Freedom (4:57) Afro-Zen Allstars - 07 - Yekatit (4:21)
For years Sun Hop Fat has been at the forefront of introducing the unique sounds of Ethiopian Jazz to the masses. The music blends the rhythms of traditional American funk (James Brown, Parliament) and jazz (Yusef Lateef, Miles Davis) with harmonies and melodies from East Africa. The result is an up-tempo groove machine that borrows harmonies from the Middle East. The music focuses primarily on arrangements from the “golden era” of Ethiopian Jazz but includes original compositions as well. This all-star band includes standout musicians from other popular San Francisco Bay Area groups.
Sun Hop Fat has developed a solid following throughout Northern California by playing a number of clubs and festivals. The ability of the band to captivate sit down jazz crowds as well as steal the spotlight in prime festival slots, encouraging crowds to get up and dance, makes the group flexible in its appeal and garners support from diverse audiences.
Sun Hop Fat @ DNA Lounge
Sun Hop Fat - 01 - Dewel (3:20)
Sun Hop Fat - 02 - Kasaleftkut Hulu (9:08)
Sun Hop Fat - 03 - Sabye (6:09)
Anthony Ant - Trumpet
Dave Eagle - Congas
Jeremy Greene - Tenor/Alto Saxophone
Nicholas Gyorkos - Trombone
Dii Martin - Guitar
Harrison Murphy- Keyboards
Christopher Noonan - Baritone Saxophone
Daniel Silberstein - Percussion
Randy Schwartz - Drums
Jesse Sheehan - Tenor Saxophone
Jesse Toews - Bass
Sun Hop Fat just released their first album. You can find it here on bandcamp site > Sun Hop Fat debut album
Getatchew passed away today. At the age of 81 and after a musical career of 68 years. He was a truely unique saxophone player. Born in the countryside of Ethiopia, he heard the saxophone on the radio at the age of 13 and went to Addis Abeba straight away. He wanted to play saxophone! And soon after that he got himself into the Municipality Band. Later he played in the Haile Selassie Orchestra's, the National Theatre Orchestra and more. Since 2004 he played regularly with The Ex. It was his choice after hearing us at one of our festivals. He recognized something in our music which reminded him of the early groups he was in, like the Fetan Band (Speed Band). He loved playing with us and for us it was also an incredible experience. He was always totally himself, full-on intense and dedicated. We played more than 100 concerts and made two beautiful albums together. The last few years, his health was not very good. He couldn't really go on tour anymore. As a kind of farewell concert for his fans, we organized a big event in the National Theatre in Addis Abeba. He got lots of attention and respect that night: 1500 people in the audience, three TV stations and a legendary concert. Getatchew was playing while sitting on a chair, but his playing was stronger than ever. His whole life was music. With his unique sound and approach he leaves behind an eternal inspiration! We will miss him. The Ex & Friends
Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex
Getatchew Mekuria is the most revered veteran of the Ethiopian saxophone - a physical and musical giant whose “Negus of Ethiopian Sax” album featured in the acclaimed “Ethiopiques” reissue series. Now 76 years old, he has collaborated with all the great Ethiopian singers over the years and is still in full voice with his own, powerfully distinctive style of playing. His huge vibrato, both forceful and fragile, plays around the vocal lines, using typical Ethiopian embellishments. He dons a lion’s mane when he plays and cuts loose with furious solos that come over like a kind of free jazz from before free jazz existed.
Since 1979, Amsterdam’s The Ex have consistently pushed the envelope, plotting a restless course from their anarchist punk origins to embrace everything sound could throw at them. Their thrillingly raw and rhythmic rock sound is born from their ideals, musical friendships/networks and work ethic. They are one of the most visceral rock units in action today.
Ever hungry to place themselves in unfamiliar contexts, The Ex toured Ethiopia twice and fell in love with its music, which led to them inviting Getatchew to perform at their 25th anniversary party in Holland. His contribution to proceedings blasted everyone off stage, and, suitably inspired, The Ex invited him on tour with them, their incendiary live collaboration bearing fruits in a blistering album released on the band’s Terp Records imprint in 2006.