Zvuloon Dub System is Israel's leading Reggae band. Adopting their name from one of the twelve tribes of Israel, the band was formed in 2006 by the Smilan brothers. They shared the same passion for roots reggae and dub, with influences from a variety of music styles, like Ethiopian jazz and rare grooves from the 70’s, USA's soul, funk and jazz, alongside with Israeli mizrahi (oriental) music.
Zvuloon Dub System - Anbessa Dub [FULL ALBUM]
band members:
Gili Yalo - lead vocals, Inon Peretz - trumpet, Ilan Adiri - tenor sax, Ilan Smilan - lead guitar, Simon Nahum - rhythm guitar, Lior Romano - piano and organ, Tal Marcus - bass, Asaf Smilan - drums and percussion guests artists:
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)
Nadav Haber started to learn the clarinet at the age of 10. In 1988-89 he lead a qaurtet in the Tel-Aviv clubs in Israel, and played in a blues duo. In the 90's nadav has switched to the tenor sax, and began to explore Ethiopian music. He played in Ethiopian dance bands all over Israel, in Ethiopian clubs and weddings. This has lead to the issue of Ethiopian Blues, and other smaller productions that were aimed at the Ethiopian Israeli market.
In recent years Nadav moved back to playing jazz, and in 2003 led a hard bop quintet in Jerusalem. He is currently working on two projects - an Ethiopian Jazz program and a “Favorite ballads” program.
Nadav Haber Quartet - Merkato
Nadav Haber Quartet - 01 - Merkato (6:23) Nadav Haber Quartet - 02 - Revalation (8:40) Nadav Haber Quartet - 03 - Reflection (9:09) Nadav Haber Quartet - 04 - Rambling (8:33) Nadav Haber Quartet - 05 - Limbo (8:42) Nadav Haber Quartet - 06 - Sudan (6:16) Nadav Haber Quartet - 07 - Arrival (7:02) Nadav Haber Quartet - 08 - Tizita (9:03) Nadav Haber Quartet - 09 - Prayer (12:38)
Hailu Mergia was born in Debre Birhan, Showa Province, Ethiopia in 1938 (1946 in the European calendar) to parents Tewabech Ezineh and Mergia Lulessa, who were of Amhara and Oromo ancestry, respectively. His mother took him to Aynemisa, close to Addis, where he grew up from age 3 until he was 10 when they moved to the capital Addis Ababa.
Hailu went to Shimelis Habte high school but dropped out before graduating. In 1952 (1960 in European calendar), he joined the army music department as a boy scout to support his mother. Mergia stayed in the army almost two years, learning how to read and write music.
After Hailu left the army, he started singing in small bars as a freelance musician. He joined various pick-up bands, touring across the Ethiopian provinces as a singer and accordion player for almost a year. After the group broke up, he started performing in nightclubs like Addis Ababa, Patrice Lumumba, Asegedech Alamrew, Sombrero, Zula Club and others. At Zula Club he and his mates formed Walias Band and did something no other band in Ethiopian nightclub history had done: they started buying their own musical instruments. Until then the club owners were supplying the instruments and had the power to fire musicians at will.
Zula Band
For the first time ever Walias Band signed a contract with the owner of Venus Club as a group thereby protecting themselves from club owners. Mergia and Walias Band went on to do gigs at hotels like Wabi Shebele and the Hilton.
After playing almost eight years at the Hilton Hotel, Mergia and Walias Band came to the United States and toured widely in 1982-1983. Afterwards, some of of the band stayed in America while others went back to Addis. That was a heartbreaking time for the band. They considered themselves a family, and they knew they had broken new ground in the history of Addis nightclub musicians. They had helped make the Ashantis Band from Kenya famous in Addis.
They were the first private band who played for state dinners at the palace for the Derg government (twice). And, they were the first private band to tour the USA. After the break-up of Walias Band, Mergia settled in the States and formed Zula Band with Moges Habte and Tamiru Ayele, playing in different restaurants and touring in the States and Europe.
At that time, Mergia made a one-man band recording with accordion for the first time, mixing in Rhodes electric piano, Moog synthesizer and a rhythm machine. That was 1985. This recording was inspired by the early memories of his first instrument, the accordion. After the break-up of Zula Band in 1992, he quit performing and ran Soukous Club for seven years with his partners Moges and Tamiru.
Hailu Mergia weaves Moog DX7 synthesizer, Rhodes electric piano and rhythm machine into the rich harmonic layering of his accordion, creating hauntingly psychedelic, elegantly arranged instrumentals. These tunes draw from famous traditional and modern Ethiopian songs, as Hailu brilliantly matches lush Amhara, Tigrinya and Oromo melodies with otherworldly flavors soaked in jazz and blues, synthesizing a futuristic landscape. He balances Ethiopian music's signature melodic shape with beautiful analog synth touches, floating upon clouds of hypnotically minimal rhythm tracks.
Nowadays he's making his living as a self-employed taxi driver at Dulles International Airport while continuing to record his music and practice as often as possible.
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 01 - Akal Aynish (7:46)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 02 - Kotume (7:00)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 03 - Ere Min Yishalegnal (6:54)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 04 - Ayaskefam (7:15)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 05 - Alamnim (8:39)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 06 - Wusheten New (5:58)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 07 - Hallo Hallo (6:33)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 08 - Engidaye Nesh (7:44)
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.
Nadav Haber started to learn the clarinet at the age of 10. In 1988-89 he lead a qaurtet in the Tel-Aviv clubs in Israel, and played in a blues duo. In the 90's nadav has switched to the tenor sax, and began to explore Ethiopian music. He played in Ethiopian dance bands all over Israel, in Ethiopian clubs and weddings. This has lead to the issue of Ethiopian Blues, and other smaller productions that were aimed at the Ethiopian Israeli market.
In recent years Nadav moved back to playing jazz, and in 2003 led a hard bop quintet in Jerusalem. He is currently working on two projects - an Ethiopian Jazz program and a “Favorite ballads” program.
01. Nadav Haber - Alchalkum (3:27) 02. Nadav Haber - In Her Youth (4:45) 03. Nadav Haber - Beautiful (5:30) 04. Nadav Haber - Love At First Sight (3:49) 05. Nadav Haber - Ethiopia (4:29) 06. Nadav Haber - My Life (4:29) 07. Nadav Haber - Japanese Woman (4:28) 08. Nadav Haber - Seven Miles From Addis (3:48) 09. Nadav Haber - When She Goes Away (3:53) 10. Nadav Haber - Long Ago (4:41) 11. Nadav Haber - Tizita (Song of Longing) (5:08)
Dawit Getachew (born September 25, 1986) is one of the greatest gospel singers in Ethiopia, and east African music award winning Ethiopian singer, song writer , arranger and producer.
He is one of the best-and most influential artists in Jazz Christian music. Dawit not only sings but also teaches music at “Mekane Yesus Seminary” school of JAZZ music. This young and intelligent artist is one among the group of Zema for Christ choir. His first CD “ Ethibekehalehu” has been a blessing since it was released. Dawit is a great growing artist and is an expectation of everybody.
Dawit Getachew - Ewedihalew
Early life
Dawit Getachew was born to Mintayesh Cherinet and Getachew Abraham in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at a place known as “Shiromeda”.and grow up in “Debrezeit” with his 3 sisters and 4 brothers. He grew up in a Christian family, with the word of God and having devotional times with his parents, as a kid Dawit knew that he could sing in those devotional times. Having this talent as a kid Dawit joined his Sunday school choir. The love of music grew in his heart. And he knew that there was nothing on earth that would make him feel good than music. So having this passion Dawit graduated high school from Bishoftu’s preparatory school.
After graduating high school, he moved back to “Addis Ababa” and joined Mekane Yesus Seminary” Jazz Music school, majoring piano. As a student Dawit was one of the best students. His interest and passion for music made him to give all his time and heart, by doing that he was one of the top students found in the school. After spending 3 years at the music school, he completed his studies with a heart to serve God and his people.then he start to lecture in the same school.
In 2007 a choir known as Zema for Christ released their first album known as “Bemamene Bicha”. Dawit was one of the founder members of the group. The album was amazing in all its musical arrangement and song contents. He arranged most of the songs and produced along Mihret Tegafaw (a member of Zema for Christ). Starting from then Dawit Getachew along with Zema for Christ performed their songs in most churches found in Addis and other parts of the country. Then Dawit started arranging and producing songs to different gospel artists, including Bethelhem Tezera, Pastor Mesfin Mamo, Samuel T/Michael, Endalkachew Hawaz, Endrias Hawaz and others. Along this journey the biggest encouragement in his life came from his mother and his older sister Addis Kidan , supporting everything he does and helping him by their prayers. so, their prayer played the biggest role in his life.
The first challenge in Dawit's life came from his father. As any Ethiopian, christian parent his father wanted him to continue with his acadamic studies because he believed that the music life of most christians was believed to be difficult for both economical and spiritual life. Deep in side Dawit new that his father purpose is LOVE. Therefore, listening to his father's advice, he was convinced that he should also do more to his life by studying another field of study. He joined the management and leadership college at Mekane Yesus Seminary . Studying for 3 years he got his first Bachelors Degree (B.A) in leadership and development in in June 25,2011.
In 2010 Dawit released his first album known as “Tebekehalehu”. He amazed his audiences in this album. It was beyond anybody’s expectation. Dawit played the major role in his first album joined by Zema for Christ as his back up singers. He wrote all the songs and produced it on his own by bringing a new and spectacular flavor to the existing music industry.
Dawit Getachew - 01 - The Power of Faith (8:19)
Dawit Getachew - 02 - Hope (8:41)
Dawit Getachew - 03 - Memory of the Future (11:07)
Born out of a surreal experience and with strong devotion Black Flower takes you on a lucid voyage through the gardens of the Abyssinian afterlife. A highly remarkable place, far away from what you and I would call reality. It is a place where strange creatures and unfamiliar sounds merge into a harmony of the weird and the beautiful.
It is said that these are the secret realms of the long past legendary ruler of Ethiopia, Sir Prester John. Some even claim that he composed these sounds as a way of ruling his ancient land. Whether this is fact or myth, nobody knows for sure...
Now, for the first time, we have the chance to get a glimpse of this mystical empire. It is no secret any more that Nathan Daems has been chosen to witness this special place. Being such an overwhelming experience, he felt the urge, even the obligation, to share this with the real world. The result is a record he applicably called “Abyssinia Afterlife”.
It was no easy task finding the right people for this job. In his years of musical exploration, Nathan kept searching for the right people to team up with. A challenging process, because they needed to embrace the idea of looking to music from a whole new perspective. They needed to be able to capture the Abyssinia Afterlife as if they had visited it them-selves. Finally he found four young and dedicated spirits who could do the job.
This is the moment Black Flower was born.
Black Flower - Upwards
Track list:
1. Solar Eclipse 6:39
2. Upwards 4:59
3. I threw a lemon at that girl 5:20
4. Jungle desert 4:50
5. Winter 5:35
6. Star fishing 5:42
7. The legacy of Prester John 3:41
8. Again I lost it 4:57
9. Abyssinia afterlife 7:45
Nathan Daems - Soprano saxophone, Tenor saxophone, Melodica, Flute Jon Birdsong - Cornet Simon Segers - Drums Wouter Haest - Piano and keyboards Filip Vandebril - Bass, Effects
TEDDY MAK has been a composer, arranger, producer, songwriter, and an accomplished performer for over twenty eight years. He is one of the pioneer, performer and major contributor to the development of Ethiopia's innovative 'new age' music.
Teddy Mak developed a passion formusic in German school Addis Abeba at an early age of eight, which was accompanied with hours of rigorous practice on the piano at home. Teddy’s youthful talent was enthusiastically supported by his father, Teddy's family provided an enabling environment that encouraged young Teddy to put in enough hours of practice on the piano which laid a firm foundation for his life’s work in Ethiopian music. Teddy Mak first studied music at the Yared Music School in Addis Ababa, which was followed by studying music, majoring in American Jazz, at the Northern Virginia Community College. He had his chance playing with great bands, which included, among others, the Shebelles, the Dahlacs and the Ethiostar band in Addis Ababa. This was the time when Teddy Mak got a chance to meet and perform with Bob Marley at the Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Throughout his career, he has compiled and created numerous melodic sounds and rhythmical beats that have made his musical compositions distinguishable. His masterful compilations have been soothing the ears of a broad range of listeners, for the past 3- decades.
Teddy Mak - Wetatuan Lidj
Teddy Mak’s musical accomplishments include over 573 arrangments and musical compositions, a cultural musical presentation, in the presence of delegates from fifty countries, at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Addis Ababa, composed sound tracks for twenty five documentary films and, wrote original soundtrack for a fifty-four segment Ethiopian movie drama series “Gemena” for Ethiopian TV.
Teddy Mak has presented a commissioned musical presentation and album on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the African Union.
Teddy Mak - 01 - Sam Mak CV (7:31)
Teddy Mak - 02 - Langano Endless Cruise in Minor (5:43)
Teddy Mak - 03 - Celebration Song Tribute for Au 50th Anniversarry (5:46)
Teddy Mak - 04 - Time Out (26:05)
Teddy Mak - 05 - Ethio Mak Jazz (7:33)
Teddy Mak - 06 - Tribute for Girma Beyene Set Alamnim T. Mak Style (5:47)
