Dereje Makonnen - Ibex Instrumental [1999] [ethiopia]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

 Dereje Makonnen  (1962 - 2011)    
keyboardist, guitarist, arranger

Dereje Mekonnen ደረጀ መኮንን - “እትቱ በረደኝ"

         To most of his adoring fans that got close to knowing him by first name, he was just simply known to them as "DJ" and more importantly to his own family and ours, we called him Dereje. The 5th one down from a family of eleven (also his favorite chord progression...) and in my humble opinion: the most gifted keyboard player there is among Ethiopian Musicians. 

        Go ahead and ask any well-established musician in the Ethiopian Music circuit... they all know him as just simply "DJ". His composition style and rhythm arrangement has mentored many of the up-and-coming musicians in our own communities.

          Dereje "DJ" Makonnen was not one to drop names nor pre-occupy his time and energy with whom he has worked with and/or help bring them to stardom, he wanted to play music since he can actually see the blueprint of what the song should be each time the singer/artist bring the lyrics and the "Zema" (pronounced Zay_MAH: a word in amharic which means melody). 

     

 The lyrics of a song always send the message across to the listening audience but it is the song that carry the tune into everybody's ear and make them remember it each time they hear the first few bars of the song. After few years of tenure with the Dallol Band in Chicago, IL whom during the last heydays of the band they were touring with Ziggy & the Melody Makers on both Conscious Party (1988) and One Bright Day (1989) albums. It was right after the tour that DJ along with Ruphael, Bryan "Rocket", Asrat and Kahali Makonnen who was later replaced by Clem Julien formed Gizzae in 1991. Gizzae soon became a fan favorite in the Chicago and Midwest reggae scene. Every Sunday night, if you were a reggae music lover, you were at the Wild Hare waiting for Gizzae to take the stage. 

      Dereje Makonnen was one of the key element in revolutionizing modern Ethiopian Music (meaning using non-traditional musical instruments) He was always playing the guitar [his favorite instrument] the keys and also the bass at the forefront of trying new sounds and arrangement styles that no one was attempting. Many of the current Ethiopian musicians refer to him as a mentor.

01. Dereje Makonnen - Yezemed Yebaed (5:40)

02. Dereje Makonnen - Yene Fikir (5:23)

03. Dereje Makonnen - Zerafewa (8:15)

04. Dereje Makonnen - Kemdelaye (4:46)

05. Dereje Makonnen - Yene Nesh Wey (4:01)

06. Dereje Makonnen - Dinq Nesh (5:27)

07. Dereje Makonnen - Yedenqal (6:18)

08. Dereje Makonnen - Meleyayet Mot Naw (7:09)

09. Dereje Makonnen - Shemonmounaye (3:52)

10. Dereje Makonnen - Assa Abelashaleho (5:14)

11. Dereje Makonnen - Ashqaru (3:36)