Akalé Wubé - Ethiopian Groove Greatest Hits [CDR, 2009 / self-released] [FLAC]

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                       Akalé Wubé is an Ethio-groove band from Paris

       It is an improbable story: one that reunites, a group of young Parisians with the Swingin' Addis sounds of the seventies. In October 2008, five musicians got together on a wild project: to delve into the repertoire of the Ethiopian golden age, as defined by the producer Francis Falceto, to whom we owe the series of reissues “Ethiopiques”. “The idea was to transcribe songs from this period and rearrange them to the sound of our times. First off, it eliminated the need to write songs that risked falling into ethio-jazz clichés. 

       The aim was not to bring about some artistic revolution through our work but simply to give and take pleasure by performing this music!” Through this retro-futuristic alchemy, the Akalé Wubé quintet was born: a curious name borrowed from a song by the great saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya, a bit of an old-fashioned expression which can by translated as “my beautiful” in Amharic, a poetic metaphor which also means “beauty of the soul”.

  “Since our very first concert in December 2008 we were surprised by the audience’s enthusiasm.” Since then, Akalé Wubé have played more than forty concerts, including a residency at the Lavoir Moderne Parisien and a tour around Morocco. A year later, they were finally ready to record their debut album. It took them four live sessions in the famous “Cold Rooms” on the bank of the river Seine, in order to capture the warmth and fervor of an acoustic and organic sound. 

      The result is a retro sound which resounds perfectly with the contemporary aesthetic of a generation of musicians that juggle genres around. Funk, reggae, jazz, tango... “All of this is found in the vocabulary and aesthetic of the ethiopian productions of the sixties and seventies. It is a cross-bred style of music - so much so, that even by sticking to the repertoire, it can be taken in different directions...” A mix of stripped-down funk soul and smart pop, of garage rock and vintage jazz, this spatiotemporal collision offers them the ideal platform to establish a solid base in 2010. The objective: transcend all genres and swing the future in the most quirky of ways. This is the attracting force of their record: a UFO which targets above all to deliver good vibes at any tempo, and move you from head to toe.

Akalé Wubé - Ayalqem tedengo (remixed version)

Akalé Wubé - 01 - Yèkatit (5:13)

Akalé Wubé - 02 - Ayalqem tedengo (5:59)

Akalé Wubé - 03 - Muziqawi silt (3:22)

Akalé Wubé - 04 - Ragalé (5:09)

Akalé Wubé - 05 - Kulunmanqueleshi (3:36)

Akalé Wubé - 06 - Yèkermè sew (3:17)

Akalé Wubé - 07 - Tezatayé antchi lidj (5:07)

Akalé Wubé are :

Paul Bouclier : trumpet, percussions 

Etienne de la Sayette : saxs, flutes, organ 

Loïc Réchard : guitar 

Oliver James Degabriele : bass 

David Georgelet : drums 

Pierre Dachery : sound

Express Band - Tiwiwik [2008] [ehiopia]

  

                                    

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NEW, BETTER RIP 

 


      In a dramatic departure from the Ethiopian music of the 1980s and 90s, the daring Express Band is credited with changing the sound of Ethiopian music. Drawing on their extensive experience with some of the most renowned bands in Ethiopia, these four innovative musicians have pioneered their own unique sound. As a result, they are currently the #1 band in Ethiopia. Introduction is the bands debut album. 

Express Band - Interview with the Band Founders - Part 1

      The Express Band has toured extensively and performed with many legendary singers, including Ephrem Tamiru and Jamaican singer, Tony Rebel. Talented musicians, composers and lyricists, they were instrumental in the arrangement of Dawit Mellesses Lottery. AIT Records is excited to be working with these creative musicians as we help introduce their unique sound to listeners worldwide, and we look forward to producing future albums with the Express Band.

       Founded in 1994 with three musicians - Dereje Tefera (bass), Kibret Zekiwos (guitar) and Feleke Hailu (keyboards and saxophone) - the daring Express Band is credited with changing the landscape of Ethiopian music. Performing in clubs throughout Addis Ababa, the Express Band has been joined onstage by the likes of Dawit Mellesse, Theodros "Afro" Kassahun, Shewandagn Hailu, Zeritu Kebede, Tigist Bekele and Abdu Kiar, and they have performed on recordings by a number of Ethiopia 's leading singers. Drawing on these experiences, they have pioneered their own unique sound and remain one of the busiest and most sought-after bands in Ethiopia .

Express Band - 01 - Set Alamnim (3:32)
Express Band - 02 - Sira (4:27)
Express Band - 03 - Chinkim Mekeraye (6:26)
Express Band - 04 - Ye-Hiywote Hiywet (5:53)
Express Band - 05 - Hallo Hallo (4:56)
Express Band - 06 - Ye-Har Shererit (5:00)
Express Band - 07 - Innate Nesh (4:29)
Express Band - 08 - Alchalkum (6:20)
Express Band - 09 - Libesh Kabashin (4:16)
Express Band - 10 - Mignote (4:08)
Express Band - 11 - Kurtun Nigerign (4:25)
Express Band - 12 - Ye-Fikir Migib (4:15)

Band members: 

Dereje Tefera - bass instrument

Elias Bekele - drums

Feleke Hailu - clarinet, saxophone, keyboards

Kibret Zekewos - guitar

Additional personnel: 

Abegasu Kibrework Shiota - keyboards

Urbano Sanchez Jr. - percussions

Kirubel Assefa - Dimtsepia [2017] [ethiopia]

 Kirubel Assefa Kebede is an Ethiopian musician who has been residing in the US and performing and perfecting his craft for over 20 years. From the early days of his childhood in Ethiopia, it was apparent that Kirubel had a keen awareness of music and rhythm. Long before his formal education at St. Joseph in Addis Abeba began, Kirubel enjoyed using eating and cooking utensils as drum sticks to create sound, showing an affinity for and love of music early on. His first formal musical training was on a school drum set during his elementary years, and he eventually performed regularly with the St Joseph School Band. Over time, his musical fluidity has expanded beyond drums to include the rhythm of the bass and the bubbling sound of the keyboards.

After immigrating to the United States, Kirubel continued his training and musical education at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, CA and began to hone his skills in arranging and composing music for film and movies. With extensive exposure to the dynamic cultural & musical melting pot of Los Angeles, Kirubel played with bands across numerous musical genres, including Afro-Cuban, Reggae, and Funk bands.

Kirubel Assefa

He acted in the semi-autobiographical independent film entitled “Journey to Lasta” (2004) directed by Wondwossen Dikran in which he portrayed an Ethiopian musician struggling to survive in Los Angeles. He composed most of the songs for the movie which also featured his band “Lasta Sound”.  Kirubel also served as sound designer for a number of commercial products and composed the music for the IMAX documentary entitled “Mystery of the Nile” (2005).

As musical director, arranger, and performer, he has worked with the biggest names in Ethiopian music such as, Mahmoud Ahmed, Gigi, Aster Aweke, Tewodros Tadesse and the late Dr. Telahun Gessesse. 

Kirubel tours regularly with many internationally known artists.

KIRUBEL AND THE DIMTSEPIA PROJECT - LIVE cover N ARC

Dimtsepia, is the title of Kirubels first solo project. Dimtsepia, as a body of work, is a celebration of Ethiopian culture.  The word is a contraction of dimtse (the Amharic word for sound) and Ethiopia. On the recording, Kirubel plays bass, keyboards, guitar (1 song) as well as arranging the horn parts. With strong roots in jazz as a discipline, Kirubel weaves the traditional melodies of his homeland around complex rhythms creating a brand of world fusion for the 21st century.

While the music was written and composed by Kirubel, lyrics on several songs were written by respected lyricist and musician Yonas Mulatu. The first single will be “Ye Ethiopia Lij” meaning “Child of Ethiopia” sung by Fitsum Mahedere. Tsedenia Gebremarkos, known for her works on Real World Records with the band Dub Collusus sings on two tracks: “Kokobe” and “Tesmamye”. 

Tsegaye B/ Selassie who is the front man  from Lasta sound sung "Maraki".  This release will also introduce an up and coming singer, Teklish, who is destined to become the voice of a new generation. The horn section on the recording includes Kumasi Washington on Saxophone, Ryan Porter on trombone and Chris Gray on Trumpet.

Kirubel Assefa - 01 - Tesmameye (4:26)

Kirubel Assefa - 02 - Ye Meskel Wef (5:03)

Kirubel Assefa - 03 - Ye Ethiopia Lij (4:32)

Kirubel Assefa - 04 - Dimtsepia (4:05)

Kirubel Assefa - 05 - Addis Lij (4:52)

Kirubel Assefa - 06 - Kokebe (5:37)

Kirubel Assefa - 07 - Ethio Jazz (5:02)

Kirubel Assefa - 08 - Webit (5:49)

Kirubel Assefa - 09 - Maraki (4:41)

Kirubel Assefa - 10 - Tana (5:48)

    Holding true to the layered arrangements of the outstanding Ethiopian bands of the 70’s and 80’s, the sound is infused with contemporary elements. By collaborating with some of the best voices singing in Ethiopian music today, the plan is to fully exploit each single in its own right. A video has been shot in Addis to promote and expose the song “Ye Ethiopia Lij.” The story line follows a young Ethiopian who has been sent to the city to help support the family in the country. It captures a slice of life often overlooked but a reality that should be recognized and ultimately celebrated.

Credits:

Kirubel Assefa  - Bass, Keyboards (All tracks) Guitar (Track 4)

Teferi Assefa - Drums, (Track 2, 3, & 5) Percussion (all tracks)

Johnny Blackman - Drums (Track 9)

Reginald Spivey - Drums (Tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 10)

Yoseph Ermias - Guitar (Track 2, 5 & 8)

Zakki Jawad - Guitar (Track 3)

Huit Kilos - Guitar (Tracks 1, 5, 6 & 8)

Michael McTagger - Guitar (Tracks 3, 7, 9 & 10)

Kamasi Washington - Saxophone ( All Tracks except Track 1)

Ryan Porter - Trombone (All Tracks except Track 1)

Cris Gray - Trumpet (All Tracks except Track 1)

Vocals:

Teklish Sisay (Track 2 & 8)

Tsedenia Gebremarkos (Tracks 1 & 6)

Fitsum Mahadere (Tracks 3 & 5)

Tsegaye Berhanu Selassie (Track 9)

Moges Habte - Kebena Godana [1999] [ethiopia]

     



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         Moges Habte was member of the school band at the Kokebe Tsbah Haile Sellasie primary school. He later joined the St.Yared Music School and studied music. He used to play saxophone at the Zula night club. Moges and his friends later set up the Walias Band, which regularly played at the Hilton and Wabe Shebele hotel. Moges had a big role in the production of Hailu Mergia’s instrumental. He as well toured America with the Walias Band in 1980 and never came back. He established himself in America and besides accompanying famous singers. Moges had released albums of instrumental music.

       Moges Habte's talent is well known to many avid listeners of Ethio Jazz. For those who may not know, however, Moges is an amazing saxophone player whose musical roots date back to the fourth grade at Kokebe Tsibah Haile Selassie Day School and the Yared School of Music. After studying music for years and performing in some of Ethiopia's best marching bands, Moges began playing in nightclubs. 

     In the 1970s, Moges and other musicians formed the Walias Band -- a group whose music is highly sought after by music collectors 30 years later! (One Walias LP sold for US$120 a few years ago!!!) In "Kalen Alatefewm," a hit originally popularized by Mulatu Astatke and Teshome Mitiku, Moges seduces and hypnotizes you with his saxophone -- seamlessly blending Ethiopian melodies with jazz elements to create what I believe is a masterpiece! The percussion by Mikias Abebayehu perfectly reinforces Moges' playing while showing restraint so as to not overwhelm either Moges or keyboard playing by Brihane Kidan. 

     I can guarantee you will not be disappointed!!! Moges' interpretation of "Musicawe Silt," a timeless composition by Girma Beyene and made famous by the Walias Band, is amazing for what it is and for what it is not. Once again, Moges' saxophone playing is phenomenal!!! The Ethiopian melodies are given an update -- the playing is less funky and much more.

Moges Habte - 01 - Kisseh New Wodajeh (7:32)

Moges Habte - 02 - Kalen Alatfewem (5:58)

Moges Habte - 03 - Musicawe Silt (6:00)

Moges Habte - 04 - Kebena Godana (7:36)

Moges Habte - 05 - Alchalkum (6:17)

Moges Habte - 06 - Sewenetua (5:49)

Moges Habte - 07 - Walias Groove (6:41)

Moges Habte - 08 - Anchen Messay Konjo (7:48)

Either/Orchestra - Live at Berklee [usa+eth]

Founded in 1985 by saxophonist & composer Russ Gershon, the ten-piece Either/Orchestra, based in Somerville MA, is one of the jazz world's most long-lived and distinguished groups.  Alumni include jazz stars such as John Medeski, Matt Wilson, Miguel Zenon, Jaleel Shaw & Josh Roseman.

The E/O, featuring a six piece horn section, piano, bass, drums and congas, has put its stamp on just about every style of jazz, from big band, swing and bop to Latin jazz, electric and avant-garde.  The last decade or more has found the band absorbing an Afro-Caribbean influence through a succession of Latino members.  

Teshome Mitiku with Either/Orchestra

More unusually, the E/O has become deeply involved with Ethiopian music, touring there and collaborating with many Ethiopian greats of the outstanding 1960's generation.  Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and Teshome Mitiku are among the band's favorites.  The Ethiopian connection includes the double CD Ethiopíques 20: Live in Addis and the DVD Ethiogroove: Mahmoud Ahmed and Either/Orchestra.

Over the years, the E/O has been recognized with five Boston Music Awards, perennial placement in the Big Band category of the Down Beat International Critics Poll, and leader Gershon was nominated for an arranging Grammy for his composition "Bennie Moten's Weird Nightmare," included in The Calculus of Pleasure.

The E/O began performing original arrangements of Ethiopian songs, inspired by a compilation called Ethiopian Groove: the Golden 70s. In 2000, after three of these songs appeared on the album More Beautiful than Death, Francis Falceto, the producer of Ethiopian Groove, contacted Gershon and eventually arranged an invitation for the E/O to play at the Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa in 2004. 

Along with Indo-British singer Susheela Raman the same year, the E/O was the first non-Ethiopian artist to appear in the festival, and was the first US big band to appear in Ethiopia since Duke Ellington's in 1973. Their concert at the festival was recorded and ultimately appeared in Falceto's Ethiopiques series on the French Buda Musique label. Five Ethiopian guests appear on the recording: Mulatu Astatke, Getatchew Mekurya, Tsedenia Markos, Bahta Hewet and Michael Belayneh. This tour and recording have led to an ongoing collaboration with Astatke, the primary founder of Ethiopian jazz, concerts with Ethiopian expatriates singer Hana Shenkute, krar player Minale Dagnew, masinko player Setegn Atanaw, and the great Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed with whom E/O released a DVD in 2007. 

Mahmoud Ahmed and fellow legendary Ethiopian singer Alemayehu Eshete played Lincoln Center Out of Doors in 2008 backed by E/O. The group debuted a collaboration with vocalist Teshome Mitiku in the summer of 2010, including a headlining appearance at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Either Orchestra - 01 - Introduction (3:03)
Either Orchestra - 02 - Tigrigna,Oromigna,Guragigna (14:06)
Either Orchestra - 03 - Arehibi (9:34)
Either Orchestra - 04 - Ethiopia (5:20)
Either Orchestra - 05 - Yamnaw Bedele (6:55)
Either Orchestra - 06 - Yeqir Beqa (6:07)



guests :

Minnale Danew - krar
Setegn Atanaw - masinko
Hana Shenkute - vocal

Jazzmaris - Jazzmaris live at Guy's Bar [2016] [eth+ger]

Jazzmaris is a quartet from Ethiopia and Germany, playing since 2007 in Addis Ababa and elsewhere. The composition of the group is: drums, bass, electric guitar and alto saxophone.

Their music’s are Ethiopian melodies played as own arrangements with various influences like Jazz, Rock and improvised music.

The group’s name is a creation of the words Jazz and Asmaris. Asmaris are the traditional musicians of Ethiopia.They play and sing since centuries, expressing the feelings and opinions of the people.

Jazzmaris is giving Ethiopian music a new expression and sound

Jazzmaris - Ye Faransay Djelba (live at Guy's Bar)

The repertoire of Jazzmaris is mostly modern Ethiopian songs of singers like Mahmoud Ahmed, Girma Beyene, Muluken Melesse, Telahoun Gessesse and others. The aim of the group is to play Ethiopian music in a fresh way, giving the music a new expression and sound.

Jazzmaris - 01 - Ene Negn Bai Manesh (10:55)

Jazzmaris - 02 - Ye Fikir Wodmet (Bemin Sebeb Litlash) (12:13)

Jazzmaris - 03 - Mado Hanee (7:56)

Jazzmaris - 04 - Musicawi Silt (10:06)

Jazzmaris - 05 - Ye Faransay Djelba (6:28)

Jazzmaris - 06 - Yekatit (4:35)

Jazzmaris - 07 - Meche New (12:24)

Jazzmaris - 08 - Almaz Ye Hararwa (9:59)

Jazzmaris - 09 - Fikir Ende Kirar (7:33)

Jazzmaris - 10 - Aynotche Terabu (13:09)

musicians: 

Henock Temesgen - bass

Nathannael Tessema - drums 

Jörg Pfeil - guitar 

Olaf Boelsen - alto saxophone

Debo Band - Montana folk festival no.02 - 2013-07-12 [2013] excerpts [usa+eth]

       Debo Band are a large ensemble led by Ethiopian-American saxophonist Danny Mekonnen and fronted by charismatic vocalist Bruck Tesfaye. Since their inception in 2006, the band has won raves for their groundbreaking take on Ethiopian pop music (think Ethiopiques), which incorporates traditional scales and vocal styles, alongside American soul and funk rhythms, and instrumentation reminiscent of Eastern European brass bands.

Debo Band features:

Bruck Tesfaye vocals

Danny Mekonnen saxophones

Gabriel Birnbaum tenor saxophone

Danilo Henriquez trumpet and percussion

Stephanie Baird trombone

Jonah Rapino electric violin

Kaethe Hostetter five-stringed violin

Marié Abe accordion

Brendon Wood guitar

Arik Grier sousaphone

PJ Goodwin bass

Adam Clark drums

Debo Band - Lantchi Biye 

(2013 Montana Folk Festival)

Debo Band - 01 - Musicawi Silt (6:34)

Debo Band - 02 - Yene Neger (7:03)

Debo Band - 03 - Not Just A Song (7:04)

Debo Band - 04 - Jeguol Naw Betwa (5:12)

Debo Band - 05 - Ney Ney Weleba (7:57)

Hailu Mergia - Instrumental Music [1983] [ethiopia]

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           Instrumental album of Hailu Mergia. These tracks came to me without tags, only with 1983 as year of release (ethiopian or western calendar, I dont know).

Hailu Mergia - 01 - Hailu Mergia (8:29)

Hailu Mergia - 02 - Hailu Mergia (7:18)

Hailu Mergia - 03 - Hailu Mergia (6:40)

Hailu Mergia - 04 - Hailu Mergia (8:23)

Hailu Mergia - 05 - Hailu Mergia (8:36)

Hailu Mergia - 06 - Hailu Mergia (8:30)

Hailu Mergia - 07 - Hailu Mergia (6:54)

Hailu Mergia - 08 - Hailu Mergia (7:04)