A lively and captivating album by Ethiopian writer and performer Gabriella Ghermandi.
The project takes as their symbol Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia (1818 - 1868), who was not of royal lineage but took the throne by sheer charisma and will power and united the country.
With a mix of Ethiopian traditional and modern instruments the group presents a unique and interesting sound based on traditional Ethiopian pentatonic scales.
Rasselas is an Ethiopian-born Hip-Hop artist and producer who is emerging out of Canada. His style can be described as Hip-Hop mixed with traditional Ethiopian music. Rasselas performs English and Amharic, but he also speaks French. He merges his linguistic abilities to create a fresh vibe within Hip-Hop. He has good knowledge of the international marketplace, and is quite at home in the recording studio producing, composing beats, and rapping original lyrics. He owns and operates his own record label Injera Music Inc. from his residence in Toronto.
Rasselas - Guragigna
After the release of his 2014 independent album “Injera Music”, Rasselas was nominated for Best Male Artist at the African Entertainment Awards. His latest album “Hagger Swagger (The Album)” iwas released in July 2016.
This post is completely taken from extraordinary new blog dedicated to an older african music. My true admiration goes to Matthew Lavoie, the author. You may find his blog here >>>WALLAHI LE ZEIN!
Menelik Wossenachew
Here is another reel of radio recordings from the horn of Africa. This reel was compiled by Ato Girma Zande, the music librarian of Radio Ethiopia back in the late 1960s (my guess is 1966-67). As you have surely read in the Ethiopiques liner notes (essential reading on Ethiopian music), the 1960s were a decade of musical ferment in Ethiopia. A decade of musical innovation and flux, foreshadowing the prolific early 1970s, the 'Golden Era' of Ethiopian popular music that has become a musical benchmark--akin to 1930s Harlem or 1980s Kingston--known to music lovers throughout the world.
This reel features five tracks by Bezunesh Bekele, including a 'traditional' version of 'Ere Mela Mela' as well as a live recording, three short and wonderful tracks by Bahta Gebrehiwot, three by Tilahoun Gessesse, the greatest Ethiopian singer of the Golden Age, and four lovely cuts by Menelik Wessenachew. These singers are accompanied by the great orchestras of the decade, the Ras Band, the Imperial Bodyguard Orchestra and the Haile Selassie Orchestra. The reel starts with four tracks of 'traditional' music, featuring, in particular, two lovely songs from Tigre and Shoa province.
Bezunesh Bekele - Hizb le Hizb
I recorded these tracks straight from the master reel to CD. This is an old reel and some of the tracks are a little wobbly. I have left the tracks in the order that Ato Zande dubbed them and I have not fiddled with the sound, no noise reduction, filtering, or eq.
Ethiopian Popular and Folk Music (Tracks prepared by Ato Girma Zande, Music Librarian, Radio Ethiopia)
I don't think any of these tracks are on the many reissues of classic Ethiopian music that have been released in the last twenty years. Don't hesitate to point out releases that I may have missed or to share what you know about these recordings.
The first picture is taken from a Menelik Wessanachew record sleeve and the second from a Bahta Gibrehewot sleeve. Enjoy.
Askale Berhane - 01 - Gojja Minja (2:19) Bezunesh Bekele - 02 - Era Mela Mela (3:38) Uncredited - 03 - Mandjar (from Shoa Province) (3:21) Uncredited - 04 - Temesgen (from Tigre) (5:45) Bahta Gibre-Hewot with Ras Band - 05 - Anchem Indela (3:33) Bahta Gibre-Hewot with Ras Band - 06 - Tar New (1:17) Bahta Gibre-Hewot with Ras Band - 07 - Ine Nenj Woy Monj (2:50) Bahta Gibre-Hewot with Ras Band - 08 - Ene Metch Alkuna (2:22) Bezunesh Bekele & Imperial Body Guard Orchestra - 09 - Ere Keyete Meta (2:58) Bezunesh Bekele & Imperial Body Guard Orchestra - 10 - Ante Temeta Ene (live) (2:28) Bezunesh Bekele & Imperial Body Guard Orchestra - 11 - Yaleb Lay Esat (5:59) Bezunesh Bekele & Imperial Body Guard Orchestra - 12 - Kante Gara Lehun (2:25) Telahun Gessesse - 13 - Satwadenj Wodeyet (4:18) Telahun Gessesse - 14 - Ere Min Yeshalengal (2:22) Telahun Gessesse - 15 - Feker Lebichaye (4:10) Menelik Wossenachew & Haile Selassie Orchestra - 16 - Yayne Alem (3:41) Menelik Wossenachew & Haile Selassie Orchestra - 17 - Tez Teyengalesh (3:55) Menelik Wossenachew & Haile Selassie Orchestra - 18 - Almaz Eyasebbhush (4:40) Menelik Wossenachew & Haile Selassie Orchestra - 19 - Yehagre Tezeta (2:23)
The amazing Ethiopoques series continues to amaze with another stunning album of classic "Golden Era" Ethiopian recordings from 60's & 70's Addis Ababa. The third in their 'Ethiopian Modern Music' volumes, this album collects a massively varied set of killer grooves; from the super tight soul funk of Girma Béyéné's 'Ené négn bay manésh' or his kinkier psyche funk winner 'Yebeeqagnal', to Seyoum Gébreyés and Wallias Band's rhodes driven 'Métch enéterf féléghu' or the extended slow jam 'Djémérégne' from Muluqén Mélléssé and the intoxicating female vocals of 'Métché néw' from Asséléfétch Ashiné and Géténésh Kebrét.
1. Girma Beyene - Ene negn bay manesh (4:02)
2. Seyoum Gebreyes and Wallias band - Metch ene terf feleghu (2:21)
3. Hirut Beqele - Ewnetegna feqer (3:15)
4. Samuel Belay - Qeresh endewaza (3:17)
5. Girma Beyene - Yebeqagnal (3:30)
6. Girma Beyene - Ene negn bay manesh (3:27)
7. Muluqen Mellesse - Djemeregne (7:29)
8. Asselefetch Ashine and Getenseh Kebret - Metche new (3:33)
9. Getatchew Mekurya - Gedamay (3:48)
The arrangements and bands are ably handled by Mulatu Astatke, Getatchew Mékurya and a hosts of other legends who have previously contributed to this ear opening series. This series just blows our minds and any followers of Finders Keepers Turkish Psyche picks, the Sublime Frequencies series or indeed anything from Mulatu Astatke will want to invest without delay. Essential !!
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