Nubian Arkis tremendously experimental and has taken the fusion of jazz and Ethiopian music to new levels.
1. Nubian Ark - Diminished Heaven (4:31)
2. Nubian Ark - Mamite (8:15)
3. Nubian Ark - Nine Lives (7:32)
A tight 7 piece jazz-funk combo playing a mixture of original compositions mixed with excursions intoEthiopian standards, Nubian Ark is an exciting new addition to the Addis musical scene. Driven by bass, drums and keyboards with the three piece horn section (2 sax and trombone) and percussion adding punch and color, Nubian Ark delivers an exciting live show.
Henock TemesgenandAbegasu ShiotaformedADMAS(which means "HORIZON" in Amharic) in Washington, DC in 1984. ADMAS, initially a backup band, went on to compose, arrange and produce music for most Ethiopian Artists working in the U.S., Europe and Ethiopia. They believe their music is reflective of today's world, where globalization is defying geographic boundaries.
ADMASband members, Henock and Abegasu, are graduates of the distinguished Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ma. Upon graduation, they moved to Manhattan, NY becoming active in the local Jazz and African music scene. ADMAS toured the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Canada with Ethiopian artists, and played at different festivals, including, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Summer Stage at Central Park, Hollywood Bowl, to name a few.
In 1997, they were joined by Zakki Jawad a longtime friend and fellow musician. Zakki, an accomplished musician in Reggae and World Music circles, has been actively performing in the U.S and abroad for the past 16 years. He has recorded and performed with several Reggae and African musicians, such as the ITALS from Jamaica. Between them they have extensive live and recording experience.
ADMAS’latest and sophomore effort, produced by the legendry studio icon Bill Laswell, reflects their continual work in fusing African/Ethiopian ideas with other world music elements.
This album also features prominent musicians such as Omar Hakim (drums - previously with Sting and Madonna),Karsh Kale(Drums and Tabla),Lili Haydn(Violin – Seal, Plant/Page),Peter Apfelbaum (Saxophone – Don Cherry,HieroglyphicsEnsemble),Art Baron (Trombone – Duke Ellington), Graham Haynes (Trumpet and Flugel-horn, - Steve Coleman, Gigi),Gigi(vocals - signed by Chris Blackwell to Palm Pictures recently topped the World Music charts in US and Europe), and Abdou Mboup(Percussions - Angelique Kidjo, Jean-Luc Ponty) to name a few.
The emergence of ADMAS as an original band comes on the heel of the establishment of their own independent label and Production Company, C-Side Entertainment, LLC. ADMAS’ fusion of Ethiopian and other World Music elements is the basis for their unique sound, which they hope to bring to worldwide audience. They believe their music is reflective of today’s world, where globalization is defying geographic boundaries.
Since 2006, Debo Band has thrilled Boston-area audiences with their unique interpretations of classic Ethiopian popular music. Their performances bring together the best of the last forty years of Ethiopian music, with a reverence for the vintage sounds of the 1970s and a commitment to discovering contemporary gems, as well as developing new compositions – they scored the Ethiopian-produced short film, “Lezare,” in 2009. The band paid their dues playing neighborhood bars, church basements, and loft parties, and has emerged as an internationally recognized touring band, with performances at two international festivals in the last year alone.
Up until now, Debo Band has primarily existed as a live band, playing at venues across the Boston/New England region. Last year, however, Debo began taking steps towards actively documenting and releasing recordings and is also working with a documentary filmmaker on a project about the band’s mission to bring Ethiopian music and musicians to the forefront of world music. Additionally, Debo Band is currently producing a CD/DVD set and LP version of live performances recorded in Boston, New York, and East Africa.
In May 2009, Debo traveled to Addis Ababa to perform at the 8th Ethiopian Music Festival and several other locations throughout the Horn and East Africa. These performances affected Debo Band’s creative and professional development in significant ways, particularly in the collaboration they began with several traditional musicians – vocalist Selamnesh Zemene, drummer Asrat Ayalew, and dancers Zinash Tsegaye and Melaku Belay. All accomplished musicians in their own right, these musicians work together at Fendika, a leading azmari bet, or traditional music house, operated by Melaku in Addis Ababa. When working with these four musicians Debo Band grows into a forceful, energetic, and authoritative fourteen-piece ensemble capable of delightful, one-of-a-kind performances. The full ensemble (Debo Band plus Fendika, or “FenDeboKa”) recently performed several concerts in Addis Ababa and at the 7th Sauti za Busara Festival in Zanzibar (February 2010).
1. Debo Band - Akale Wube [trad.] (4:53) 2. Debo Band - Yene Neger [Gossaye Tesfaye] (5:39) 3. Debo Band - Adderech Arada [Menelik Wossenachew] (5:18) 4. Debo Band - Ambassel [trad.] (7:19) 5. Debo Band - Addis Ababa Bete [Alemayehu Eshete] (6:22) 6. Debo Band - Lantchi Biye [Tilahoun Gessesse] (4:03) 7. Debo Band - Musicawi Silt [Walias Band] (5:09) 8. Debo Band - Embwa Belew [Muluken Melesse] (4:43)
Led by Temesegen Tareken, a former pupil of veteran Ethiopian vibraphone player Mulatu Astatke, the Krar Collective play a gritty and upbeat take on traditional Ethiopian songs.
The core of their sound is the Krar - the Ethiopian 5 or 6 stringed harp, and they played songs from their debut album 'Ethiopia Super Krar'.
Temesgen Zeleke (krar and vocal)
Genet Assefa (vocal)
Robel Taye (percussion)
1. Krar Collective - intro (0:15)
2. Krar Collective - Oromigna (5:36)
3. Krar collective - talk (3:57)
4. Krar Collective - Ambassel (6:36)
5. Krar Collective - talk (0:29)
6. Krar Collective - Tizita (6:48)
7. Krar Collective - talk (3:18)
8. Krar Collective - Abeba Yehoi (New Year) (4:19)
