Following in the
tradition ofDr. No'sOxperiment, Oh No delves headfirst into an album
inspired by and sampled from rare 60's and 70's Ethiopian funk, jazz, folk,
soul and psychedelic rock.
He calls itEthiopium. Previous
descriptions used to describe Oh No's adventures into
"never-sampled-before" territory apply - adventurous, exotic, smart, fun, andthrilling.
Even if you've never heard an instrument tuned to the qenet
scale before, even if you're more into ballads than you are tezeta's, Oh No's
transformative effect on his source material will blow you away in its
otherworldy funkiness.
Badume's Band is a eight-piece, atypical Breton (French) group that masterfully recreates the intoxicating sounds of the Ethiopian Golden Era of Music - when Addis Ababa was grooving to the sound of twist, soul, rhythm & blues and jazz in the 1970s. They have become the official backing band of Mahmoud Ahmed & Alemayéhu Eshété.
1. Badume's Band - Sab Sam Argign (4:38) 2. Badume's Band - Yemewded Neger (4:35) 3. Badume's Band - Qelemewa (4:03) 4. Badume's Band - Mela Mela (6:34)
Eric Menneteau (vocals), Xavier Pusset (tenor saxophone), Pierre-Yves Mérel (tenor saxophone), Frank Le Masle (keyboards), Rudy Blas (guitar), Etienne Callac (bass), Antonin Volson (drums), Jonathan Volson (percussion)
This is a great CD of Alemayehu's (the Ethiopian Elvis) greatest works of his seasoned musical career. The old authentic Ethiopian melodies are composed with mixed symphonyish, jazzy, rich musical extrvaganza. With his powerful bass voice, his vibrant and jubliant immersion in his performance is apparent in his songs.
He offers his beatuful versions of Tizita and Ambassel (classis Ethiopian melodies). My favorite is however, Marign Biyeshalo with poetic rhymes ('Kodaye tegefo yihunilish chama'- peel my skin off and make a shoe out it for her). I recommend it to anyone who loves the original Ethiopian melodies and appreciates its composition with 21st century instruments.
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.
Tilaye Gebretook music lesson in a music school affiliated to the Ethiopian National Theatre. He was later employed by the National Theatre where he served as a singer, Song writer, music arranger and Saxophone player in the Dewitt Band, the band for modern music in the National Theatre. He also worked in The Venus Band, The Equator Band and The Dahlak Band as a music arranger and saxophone player. He went to America with The Walias Band and he settled there. He was among the musicians who accompanied such great names like Ephrem Tamiru, Aster Aweke, Tilahun Gessesse and others. Tilaye is also known to have played instrumental music using tenor sax and alto sax as well as flute.
Tilaye Gebre also stakes his claim to the jazz idiom. His Endless Dream (Shakisso Music Productions 001, 1995) wouldn't be out of place on one of those "Smooth Jazz" radio stations, with it seamless blend of synthesizer and saxophone, but I love it nonetheless - Gebre's just too talented a musician. Here is his only album, so far :
The orchestra's repertoire consists of revamped remakes from the Golden Age of Modern Ethiopian music (1969-1978). Visiting each of the foremost artists of period in turn, Imperial Tiger Orchestra blends Ethiopian rhythms with their own influences. Playing music that is usually sung, this entirely instrumental group emphasizes the dark and hypnotic grooves of the rhythmn as well as the polished, ethereal brass themes. Improvisations, a play on texture and dynamics, distorted sounds and "noise" complete the whole.
Utterly enchanting Ethiopiques edition, starring the totally unique saxophonesound of Gétatchew Mekurya. The labelsays "Gétatchew Mkurya is probably themost revered veteran of Ethiopiansaxophone. A real giant,both physicallyand musically. Not only is he at thevery top level of Ethiopian saxophonists, but he is the "inventor"of an extremely distinctive musical"style".
The album features ten of Gétatchew Mekurya'sarrangements, blowing a snaking, smoky and hypnotic stream of notes over very minimalbacking of shuffled percussion, keys and organ. I should admit, i'm adverse to the saxophone even at the best of times, but this one has genuinely caught us out and transported us to some exclusive club in Addis Ababa circa 1972, suited and booted, sipping cocktails andmoking the finest hash. A really recommended experience.
01. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Ambassel (5:42)
02. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Almaz Yeharerwa (3:47)
03. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Yene Hassab Gwadegna (5:34)
04. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Shemonmwanaye (3:25)
05. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Yegenet Muziqa (4:32)
06. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Gofere Antchi Hoye (7:09)
07. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Akale Wube (4:11)
08. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Aynotche Terabu (4:36)
09. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Muziqa Heywete (3:09)
10. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and His Saxophone - Tezeta (4:41)
Theodros Mitikuwas one of the most talented and versatile Ethiopian musicians. Teddy's passion for music emerged at an early age when he was given an alto saxophone by his second grade music teacher, and his talent has continued to flourish. For the past 36 years, "Teddy Mitty," as he is known to his fans, has been enthralling audiences with his unique playing style and mastery of the saxophone. Starting in 1962 Teddy has performed with the "The Soul Echoes", later called "Ibex Band", "The Menelik Band" and other bands in Egypt and the United States, finally returning to Ethiopia after a fifteen year absence.
Teddy breaks new ground on this amazing album; the first acoustic Ethiopian/jazz blend record ever to be produced.
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