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
This one is a collection of records from the 60s and 70s on the Munsphone label out of Sudan "mixed by an Ethiopian octogenarian." SIDE A 1. Hamed Al Rayah - Shalo Alkalam 2. Sayed Khalifa - Jani O Ma Ligani 3. Suna'i Alasima (Mohammed Awad & Ahmed Omer) - Min Hobby Feek Ya Jar 4. Suna'i Alasima (Mohammed Awad & Ahmed Omer) - Jaboo Al Shabka Yom Al Eid 5. Ibrahim Awad - Att'haddak 6. Sharhabil Ahmed - Lissa Ma Arfeen 7. Sharhabil Ahmed - Ya Gammer Dowwa 8. Mohammed Werdi - Ghattr Al Nedda SIDE B 1. Sayed Khalifa - Al Wahid Khallaney Wahid 2. Al Belabil - Khatim Al Moon (3 sisters: Hadya, Hayat, & Amal Thulsem) 3. Sharhabil Ahmed - Ferfish 4. Sharhabil Ahmed - Al Laabis al Bumbi 5. Mohammed Werdi - Ma Takh'jely 6. Al Belabil - Lon al Manga 7. Sayed Khalifa - Nana ya Nana 8. Ibrahim Awad - Zahra Nadya 9. Mohammed Werdi - Uzabney Za Zeed Azabuk ! song not complete!
The golden age of Ethiopian popular music (as heard on the fabled ETHIOPIQUES series) is famous in part for the sparsity of material that it yielded: The state-owned recording industry was largely a ramshackle government vanity, and while music of the music it captured was strikingly haunting, only a few dozen tracks were recorded in the 1960s and '70s...
Since then, the floodgates have opened as Ethiopia has more or less entered the modern world -- more artists are making and recording more music than was dreamed possible back in the politically repressive "good old days," and the fruits of this renaissance are heard on this 6-CD set.
This album is recorded using authentic Ethiopian instruments – the Kirar (a circular wooden sound box from which six strings are attached to an upper stick held in position by two arms extending upward in a V shape); the Kebero (a large drum made of cowhide stretched over cylindrical wooden frame); the Washint (a four-holed bamboo reed pipe traditionally played by shepherds); and the Masinko (a one-stringed fiddle consisting of diamond shape wooden sound box and string made from strands of horsetail). This definitive, one-of-a-kind anthology will introduce you to Ethiopia’s rich world of unique sounds and captivating music. Enjoy!
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)
