Hailu Mergia & The Walias Band - Unknown instrumental album [poor cassette rip] [ethiopia]

      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.

Read more here :

     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.

Members : 

Girma Beyene - Piano, electric piano, arranger

Hailu Mergia - Organ, Moog synthesizer

Mahmoud Aman - Guitar

Alemseged Kebede - Bass

Temare Haragy - Drums, percussion

Yohanese Tekola - Trumpet

Moges Habte - Tenor saxophone

Tracklist : 

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 01 - Nanu Nanu Neyi (5:58)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 02 - Turun Feri (5:55)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 03 - Kemekem (6:38)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 04 - Tiz Alechign Zare (5:55)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 05 - Yekereme Fikir (6:28)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 06 - Monaliza (6:22)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 07 - Nafkote (Aynoche Terabu) (5:49)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 08 - Emo Yedigere (4:28)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 09 - Munaye (7:59)

Hailu Mergia & Walias Band - 10 - Alem Zemene (6:20)

Yeshi Demelash - Qene [2012] [ethiopia]

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Yeshi Demelash - Ela (2018)

       Yeshi Demelash has been called “arguably the most talented contemporary female Ethiopian jazz singer.”

             Musicians like Theodros Tadesse, Aster Aweke, and Gigi inspired Yeshi in her teens which later led her join Yared, Addis Ababa University school of music in 2004, where she majored in flute and minored in piano. 

          Apart from her music work Yeshi has also worked on a movie, worked as a radio host and as a music teacher. But she is highly known for her strong and constructive criticisims have let her establish a reputation in the field. 

        In 2012 Yeshi has released album titled "Qene" an ode to Ethiopia’s ancient literary and oral traditions, which has taken more than a year to prepare. Her new album has taken the Ethiopian music industry by storm with her pop and jazz amharic fusion styled musics.

Now Yeshi’s voice has captured the attention of New York-based producer Bill Laswell — the person behind the records of Jano and Gigi — and he is currently remixing one of her songs entitled Fano. 

Yeshi plans to work on a new album with Laswell when she begin her first American tour.

01. Yeshi Demelash - Fano (3:25)
02. Yeshi Demelash - Qene (4:56)
03. Yeshi Demelash - Tekusena Berad (4:02)
04. Yeshi Demelash - Melkamena Kefu (4:09)
05. Yeshi Demelash - Na (3:26)
06. Yeshi Demelash - Geday Neh (4:17)
07. Yeshi Demelash - Habesha (4:13)
08. Yeshi Demelash - Kokob (3:46)
09. Yeshi Demelash - Dekmete (5:08)
10. Yeshi Demelash - Zare (4:14)
11. Yeshi Demelash - Hager (5:00)
12. Yeshi Demelash - Sakena Chewata (4:50)

Anemut Kinde - Tizeta (Best of Ethiopian Traditional Instrument) [2001] [ethiopia]

            The washint is an end-blown wooden flute originally used by the Amhara people in Ethiopia. The washint is common in the highlands. Traditionally, Amharic musicians would pass on their oral history through song accompanied by the washint as well as the krar, a six stringed lyre, and the masenqo, a one string fiddle.

Anemut Kinde - Washint

         The washint can be constructed using wood, bamboo, or other cane. Varieties exists in different lengths and relative fingerhole placement, and a performer might use several different flutes over the course of a performance to accommodate different song types. It generally has four finger-holes, which allows the player to create a pentatonic scale.

         The washint is widely used traditional musical instrument. It is typically played by Ethiopian shepherds while herding cattle. The bamboo flute usually has four to six holes. Ethiopian youth learn to play this instrument at a very early age. 

           Yohannes Afework, a member of the famous Orchestra Ethiopia of the 1960s, and Animut Kinde are among the most popular players of this instrument.

Anemut Kinde - 01. Balageru (6:03)

Anemut Kinde - 02. Kesemayu Belay (6:48)

Anemut Kinde - 03. Ayine Hulgeze (4:44)

Anemut Kinde - 04. Yetosa Terara (6:49)

Anemut Kinde - 05. Ehehe (6:54)

Anemut Kinde - 06. Tew Erese Gebere (4:56)

Anemut Kinde - 07. Meniew Teleyechgne (6:28)

Anemut Kinde - 08. Welo Gerageru (6:48)

Anemut Kinde - 09. Belew (4:41)

Anemut Kinde - 10. Alteweyayenem (4:07)

Anemut Kinde - 11. Etete Beredegne (5:21)

Anemut Kinde - 12. Amesgnoshale (4:30)

Daniel WoldeGabriel - Adona [2005] [ethiopia]

Daniel WoldeGabriel - Befikirish Meyaze

Daniel Woldegabriel - 01 - Kiber Temesigen  (5:06)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 02 - Hodie Baba  (4:12)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 03 - Bati  (8:44)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 04 - Demam  (6:02)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 05 - Ethiopia  (4:26)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 06 - Adona  (4:37)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 07 - Bawetaw Baweridew  (3:43)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 08 - Meroleyo  (6:16)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 09 - Wahoye  (5:04)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 10 - Atibelam Enguday  (4:54)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 11 - Minjar  (5:18)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 12 - Kenenisa  (5:40)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 13 - Belay Zeleke  (4:19)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 14 - Konjo  (7:50)

Daniel Woldegabriel - 15 - Wedehuala Hedesh  (3:06)

Temesgen - Begena Fusion [2012] [ethiopia]

              Temesgen was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has studied with Alemayehu Fanta and Teshome Shenkute at the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa. It is Temesgen's dream to keep alive the ancient musical traditions of Ethiopia. He is in the process of setting up a school to teach the Begena and the Krar.

Temesgen - Yibellahalla [Begena Fusion]

           A versatile singer-songwriter, Temesgen has begun to explore the frontiers of ethio-fusion. His non-traditional work is a soulful stew of reggae, ethiopian, and jazz. He is currently working on Begena Fusion, an album that features the begena in a modern milieu. And, Krarization a collection of popular contemporary songs re-interpreted with the help of the krar. Temesgen has also created instructional DVDs on how to play the krar and the begena.

Temesgen - 01 - Yibelahalla (3:11)

Temesgen - 02 - Dawit Bebegena (3:27)

Temesgen - 03 - Qiddus (3:48)

Temesgen - 04 - Meserete Zema (3:26)

Temesgen - 05 - Dirdera (5:27)

Temesgen - 06 - Maan Yimeramer (3:35)

Temesgen - 07 - Nu Nu (3:03)

Temesgen - 08 - Alayenim Belu (5:32)

Temesgen - 09 - Haadeego (2:26)

Temesgen - 10 - Abba Gragn (4:09)

Sayat Demissie - Kihe 3, Vol.1 [2011] [ethiopia]

              Sayat Demissie was the 2004 Miss Ethiopia and the almost 2005 Miss World. Something for the high school drop-out who subsequently found herself in the front pages of local papers and magazines. Her petite frame and youthful face and her occasionally gaffe made her a target for the tabloids.

                 Two years ago, the slender girl emerged as the lead character in the Amharic movie, Sara. Nothing to write home about, it was all an amateur and second-rate performance. But she has got a look. It has given her recognition and probably an inflated ego, too. Her ego trip took her to think of developing her own talk show on ETV. For that, she came on Ethiopia Link and talked about her difficult childhood and sexual abuse, relating her experience to that of American talk-show host, Opra Winfrey.

       But that radio appearance has gotten her in trouble for a supposedly unkind remark she made about disabled people. When asked how she survived the trauma, Sayat responded saying that even the disabled keep on living, let alone her. It triggered many comments voicing displeasure. The talk-show-thing never came into reality, at least upto now and her claim of being raped on Bole Street in her teen years was thought by many as an invented story intended to get sympathy from those allocating air times.

Sayat Demissie - Enie Meretku

             Now Sayat has unraveled yet another skill as musical performer. She has released her debut musical effort, a single song, “Tew Maneh”. Actually before the release, she was performing on stage at clubs, playing her rendition of Christinia Aguilera’s “Save me from myself.”

                 Looking at the reception, Sayat’s debut work seem to be working right. Radio programmers are finding it hard to ignore it and some even talked about the birth of a new star. The lively clip of the song has made it to many Ethiopian websites and blogs. It definitely serves as a sneak preview for her upcoming studio album, which she says will arrive this year.

                    But even judging from this song, performing doesn’t appear to come naturally to Sayat. For one thing, the material she chose is a recognized, well-known old hit, “Tew Maneh”.

               She never took the trouble to write her own material and it didn’t demand much of her as singer. And even, her voice is not strongly projected enough and her inhibitions make it difficult for her to let go.

                Although Sayat didn’t write her own music, too shy to perform solo in front of a big crowd, she has the charisma, drive, and determination- things important for a young performer. But of course, she has a long way to go to develop into mature female vocalist along the lines of Aster Awoke.

Sayat Demissie - 01 - Kenie Gar New (4:11)
Sayat Demissie - 02 - Sietnetle (4:14)
Sayat Demissie - 03 - Hasabun Mesrek (5:18)
Sayat Demissie - 04 - Min Teshalew (3:49)
Sayat Demissie - 05 - Mermari (4:47)
Sayat Demissie - 06 - Lketelh (3:59)
Sayat Demissie - 07 - Ayasasbegnem (4:38)
Sayat Demissie - 08 - Aynie Siyayh (4:24)
Sayat Demissie - 09 - Mikit Stegne (3:45)
Sayat Demissie - 10 - Yenie Biet (4:50)
Sayat Demissie - 11 - Enie Meretku (4:46)
Sayat Demissie - 12 - Mela Mela (3:34)
Sayat Demissie - 13 - Tawkaleh (3:29)

Nadav Haber - Beautiful [Tribute to Tilahun Gessesse] [2012] [israel-ethiopia]

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Nadav Haber - Lake Tana Blues

        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)

Chalachew Ashenafi - Gerager [2009] [ethiopia]

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   all tracks fixed   

       Chalachew Ashenafi (1966-2012) was a singer and masinko player, an traditional Ethiopian instrument comparable to violin but with just only one string. 

       Chalachew was born and raise in Debre Tabor, close to the city of Gondar in Ethiopia, where most of the famous Azmaris originate from. He played at weddings and traditional bars before releasing his own album entitled "Gerager" in 2009. 

       He has hosted shows and performed at events in the United States, Italy and Germany among other countries. Chalachew did some tours with The Ex in recent years. A traditional player, but also forward, funny and stubborn.

         Chalachew Ashenafi died at age of 47.

01. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Awdamet (4:58)
02. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Jimma Yadegech (7:03)
03. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Gameye (6:13)
04. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Gondar (6:08)
05. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Himemeyew (7:36)
06. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Selamney (4:57)
07. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Munit (6:28)
08. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Gerager (6:49)
09. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Megalo (4:38)
10. Chalachew Ashenafi (Chale) - Fano (6:07)

Karibuni @ddis - Back Road to Ethiopia [2013] [ger+eth]

          The album is greatly influenced by music from Ethiopia, Angola and Congo. Infused with an interesting mix of soundscapes born from the world-wide multicultural and travel experiences of the musicians.

         This album does not only offer good music. The band Karibuni @ddis demonstrates the powerful synergy that occurs when music and social awareness merge with thoughtful lyrics and beautiful melodies.

Karibuni @ddis - Saba Sabina

Josephine Kronfli - voc, flute, shaw washint, whistle, field recordings 
Pit Budde - ac guitars, banjo, sitar guitar, autoharp, bass, wavedrum, shaman drum, uruwuri, field recordings, voc 
Rahel Budde – voc 
Carlos Mampuya – voc
Klaus Jochmann - perc, accordion
Ahmet Bektas - ud, sazbüs, darbouka, bendir, davul, voc
Roshan Linsi – voc
Ill James - voc
Dorothea Kares – voc
Michael Voss – el guitar
Franziska Urton – violin
Steffi Stephan – bass
Benno Gromzig - bass 

Karibuni @ddis - Hoya Hoye / Assiyo Bellema (5:08)
Karibuni @ddis - Felega (4:58)
Karibuni @ddis - Mbawala Jila / Ayaya (4:59)
Karibuni @ddis - Wir Sind Eins / Esheruru (4:35)
Karibuni @ddis - Selam, Shalom, Shlomo, Frieden (4:51)
Karibuni @ddis - No Child Soldier (4:00)
Karibuni @ddis - Saba Sabina (3:44)
Karibuni @ddis - Melkam Fasika From Ethiopia (3:24)
Karibuni @ddis - Kunsi Africa (6:55)
Karibuni @ddis - Wefe, The Desperate Bird (5:52)

Mahmoud Ahmed - Woy Fikir [with Roha Band] [1986] [ethiopia]

Mahmoud Ahmed, born 18 May 1941, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

       Mahmoud Ahmed  sang at weddings and family gatherings from a very early age, but while he was still a child, his family became homeless when his father lost his job. Forced to work as a shoeshine boy, the young Mahmoud’s education inevitably suffered and he was expelled from school for poor attendance. Following his headmaster’s advice that his only possible salvation lay in music, Mahmoud Ahmed soon became known locally for his powerful voice as well as his skills as a dancer of the twist and calypso. He worked as a painter’s assistant and kitchen porter at the Arizona Club, a fashionable Addis Ababa nightspot. One evening, he begged his way into performing a song with a band at the club, receiving rapturous applause and launching his musical career. He became the vocalist with the Imperial Bodyguard Band in the early 60s, subsequently remaining with them for 11 years.

     

Mahmoud Ahmed With Roha Band (1986)

Mahmoud Ahmed’s first album was released in 1972 and he has since made numerous recordings for the local market as well as performing with many of Ethiopia’s top bands and musicians. In 1986, the Belgian record label Crammed Discs released Erè Mèla Mèla, a compilation of Ahmed’s recordings from the 70s and one of the first albums of modern Ethiopian music available in the west. Critical response was highly favourable and a European tour followed a year later. Soul Of Addis was originally released in Ethiopia in 1985 and, while not as intense as the 70s recordings, nevertheless offered a fine showcase for Ahmed’s spellbinding voice. The Paris, France-based label Buda Musique has also released several Ahmed albums in their Éthiopiques series.

       Something of a local institution, Mahmoud Ahmed still performs regularly in Addis Ababa, as well as owning and running a record label and a nightclub. He sings in a variety of local and international styles but consistently returns to the tizita (a slow and intense local form of the blues). His multi-octave voice is similar to that of Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (who died in 1997), a veritable force of nature that combines the ecstatic devotional pleading of qawwali with the precise tone and phrasing of Western jazz singers.

Mahmoud Ahmed - 01 - Endet Nesh Belulign (6:22)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 02 - Yeshega Lij Mewded (7:55)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 03 - Konjit (5:04)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 04 - Atazlignim Woy (5:46)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 05 - Yababilal (5:23)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 06 - Neyima (7:15)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 07 - Woy Fikir (10:24)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 08 - Engidaye Nesh (7:28)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 09 - Ebolale Gere (5:30)

Roha Band members were :

Ashenafi Awel - drums

Giovanni Rico Bonsignori - bass

Yonas Degefie - saxophone

Selam Syoum - guitar

Yared Tefera - saxophone

Dawit Yifru - keyboards