dub Addis - Ethio-Roots [2008]

                                         R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D    

       dub Addis was born in Durham, North Carolina in 1994 from two Ethiopians, Dereje Tesfaye and Fresew Taye, under the mentorship of Bassie Kangudi from Kinshasa, Congo. In 1995 dub Addis expanded adding Vernon “Aessay” Perry Jr. and Bashier Shakur, African diasporees living in NC. This group became African Children. After performing as African Children around the east coast of U.S., in June 1999, dub Addis departed to Austin TX. 

                              

                               dub Addis - Stay strong                                        

      They continued their musical journey with Chris Toms on drum, Aessay and Ras Jorje from Cuba on bass, Asa Savage from Corpus Cristy, TX on lead guitar, Ann Savage from the Philippines on flute, Kuchingo from Brazil on percussion, IdowuAdwale from Nigeria on rhythm guitar, and Johan Dentant from Belgium on alto sax. They've touched Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, TX with their international sound. 

       In June 2001, dub Addis returned to their home base in Durham, NC and were joined by North Carolinia reggae-phile Tre "Sost" Tomson on bass. After performing as a trio for few year, dub Addis added horn section and rhythm guitar.

       Currently dub Addis features :

Dereje Tesfaye - lead vocal and keys, 
Jae Fields on trumpet, vocals and keys, 
Serena Wilie on saxophone and vocals, 
Ricardo James on trumpet and vocals 
Dean Irwin on bass and 
Kenneth Joseph on drums.

01. Dub Addis - Yes I (3:52)
02. Dub Addis - And Enat (Mother of All) (5:53)
03. Dub Addis - Ethio-Vibe (8:03)
04. Dub Addis - No Pain (2:57)
05. Dub Addis - Asio (5:35)
06. Dub Addis - Social Justice (5:04)
07. Dub Addis - Addisu (7:58)
08. Dub Addis - Dar Eskedar (4:22)
09. Dub Addis - Gun Shot (4:20)
10. Dub Addis - Yes I Dub (3:37)

       "We are dedicated to writing our own material and determined to bring a positive sound to the masses..Our songs vary from traditional Ethiopian rhythms to Roots Reggae." - Dereje
     

v.a. - Festival AF des musiques ethiopiennes - Tribute to Girma Beyene [2008]

                      R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

       Girma Beyene was one of the arrangers who made the Ethiopian music of the Golden Era different than the music of today. He was a lyricist, a music writer, an arranger, a vocalist, an accomplished pianist and finally a bandleader. To most, if any name comes to mind with the word arranger, it is probably that of Mulatu Astatke. Yet, according to Ethiopiques Series producer Francis Falceto*, in the heyday of vinyl records, Girma Beyene is credited to having arranged close to 65 titles, compared to Mulatu's 40.

       The 7th edition of the Ethiopian Music Festival held from the 7th to 17 May 2008 in Addis Ababa. Organized by the Alliance Ethio-Francise as a part of its centenary celebration and as a tribute to the Ethiopian pianist, composer and arranger Girma Beyene, the festival bring renowned and young musicians.

        Francis Falceto in his book Abyssinia Swing, a pictorial history of modern ethiopian music describes Girma as one of a pioneering generation of artists that has a huge influence on the current ethiopian music.

        From the very beginning of the 1960’s and for some twenty years, he ranked among the ethiopian musical scene’s most creative and prolific artists. He left precious few recordings behind him as a vocalist: it was above all as a pianist, organist, composer and arranger that Girma made his mark on what is today agreed to be the golden age of ethiopian music. 

      Throughout the heyday of Vinyl record production (1969-1978), the figure of Girma Beyene dominated the recording sessions. The then-privileged partner of Alemayehu Eshete, Girma innovated, through his simple and to-the-point playing, melding the lightness of pop into the ethos of a changing Ethiopia. Admired for his musical elegance, Girma none the less met one of the saddest fates in ethiopian music. Though his countrymen still remember his charming voice and his knack for pop, they have totally forgotten his role and importance as an innovator.

      Going into exile in the USA in 1981, Girma departed the ethiopian music scene, sinking into the anonymous “Little Ethiopia’ of America’s East Coast.

      According the Alliance booklet, there has been a renewed interest of late in the work and personality of Girma Beyene.

      International groups such as the Either/ Orchestra, The Daktaris, Le Tigre (Platanes), The Ex, Badume's Band and Antibalas have added some of Girma’s major compositions to their repertoires.

01. Alexo & Friends - Medinanna Zelesegna (7:48)

02. Sax Summit - Antchi hoyé lené  (10:22)

03. Addis Acoustic Renaissance - Ambassel (7:47)

04. Azmari evening - Mela mela (4:27)

05. Munit Mesfin & Jörg Pfeil - Sét Alamnem (6:40)

06. Dan Harper's Invisible system - Bertukané (5:01)

07. Addis Acoustic Renaissance - Feker kegna endayleyen (4:18)

08. Charles Sutton quartet - Uuta ayaskefam  (5:40)

09. Sax Summit - Feker ende sekuar  (8:18)

10. Zea - Muziqawi selt (3:19)
11. Alexo & friends - Enkelfén wesdhew (6:56)

12. Munit Mesfin & Jörg Pfeil - Astawesalehu (3:17)

Invisible System - Punt [Made in Ethiopia] [2009]

                                                    R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D   

       Invisible System is the pseudonym for the UK & Africa producer Dan Harper whose music is an eclectic fusion of Ethiopian, dub, reggae, techno, trance, drum and bass, jungle, acid, psychedelic, folk, post-punk, goth and rock.

       Traditional vocals & instruments meet the modern, electronic and brass. Recorded in Ethiopia.  Live Europeans meet live Ethiopians! 

       The songs were improvised, from scratch - all instruments and vocals. Improvisation was a largely new concept to most of the Ethiopian counterparts (previously told what or how to play or sing). Dan just went from go with your feelings and express them as Dan had done. The results were stunning both for them and for us. We are not into using Ethiopian (or Malian) samples or trying to quickly learn and imitate Ethiopian musicians who have their sounds, modes, scales, feelings and soul from their culture and country else we would be the neo-colonialists. We are into sharing, learning and exchange over time.

       Dan spent 3 years in Addis Ababa not 3 weeks, living, working and existing there. Aid working all around the country, producing music based in Addis. He Met people from all walks of life. The music is based on real life experience not from reading. It is played from the heart and soul of everyone involved. Their own interpretation thus tapping the ebbs and flows of our lives.

Hear What the Critics Have to Say!

---‘sturdy Ethiopian vocals are matched against backing that veers from wailing psychedelic rock to trance, trip-hop and dub, it's an impressive achievement.’  - The Guardian, Robin Denselow

'New rave goes global. The rave crowd may love such deranged energy.' - Uncut, Nigel Williamson

---‘you can imagine this becoming a mind blowing rave classic, pushing the envelope

 beyond Ethiopqiues nostalgia.’ - MOJO, David Hutchenson

---’there's a pleasing headiness to its rough charm’ - The Independent, Andy Gill

---‘a startlingly original combination of Ethiopian roots and pop with dub, electronica and psychedelic rock’ - fRoots, Jamie Renton

---‘this wonderfully strange and slightly otherworldly album’ refuses resolutely to be pigeon holed. One of the most startlingly original musical adventures of the year giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘fusion music’. - R2 / rock N Reel, Dave Haslam

---‘like an exotic mythology flung into outer space‘ - World Music Network, TJ Nelson

---‘It’s an album that, to its credit, solidly defies easy description.  It needs to be heard several times and each reveals a new delight’ - AllMusic.com, Chris Nickson

---‘Each time you hear the songs, you hear something different as this will be the longevity of this world class fusion CD’ - LAsThePlace.com, Los Angeles

---'I encourage everyone to check it out, but not try to capture it..just feel it.' - Max Benkole Jarrett, BBC World Service

---‘Brings together a fine mix of musicians to create a festive-sounding album recorded in Ethiopia’ – New Internationalist