The Black Jesus Experience - Yeluinta [2010] [aus+ethiopia]

The Black Jesus Experience and Mulatu Astatke

       2010 release, a superb Funk/Hip-Hop album from the Australian band Black Jesus Experience - Yelluinta fuses an irresistible blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st Century groove. The rhymes and chimes of the band deliver the musical strength and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Jazz.

01 - The Black Jesus Experience - Arada (3:49)

02 - The Black Jesus Experience - Guraginya (4:18)

03 - The Black Jesus Experience - Don't Cry For The Fallen (4:41)

04 - The Black Jesus Experience - Yeluinta (5:05)

05 - The Black Jesus Experience - Lonnie's Lament-Dawitt Abatachew (5:15)

06 - The Black Jesus Experience - Let's Call Her (2:46)

07 - The Black Jesus Experience - Bohemia (5:38)

        Black Jesus Experience (BJX) is an 8 piece band playing an irresistibly danceable blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st Century groove. As diverse as the 5 continents the members of 'BJX' hail from, their music reflects the multicultural vibrancy of the band's hometown, Melbourne, Australia. 

       When not touring BJX run a weekly session at cultural hub The Horn where BJX create new songs live on stage. The comfort BJX has with this practice lies in the improvising traditions of that feed BJX including Hip Hop, Jazz, Azmari and Rutu Pa'u. 

        The music is also fed quite literally before each performance by the ritual of a group meal prepared by singer Enushu and MD Peter Harper in the Ethiopian tradition, "those who eat from the same plate will not betray each other". This inspires and reinforces bonds musical, social and spiritual, bonds BJX invite their audiences to join. 

      Enushu began entertaining her local community as a child in Addis Ababa. Forced to leave Ethiopia, Enushu migrated to Australia bringing hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by her remarkable life story and the unique vocal traditions of Ethiopia. Enushu is joined on vocals by poetic giant and lyrical miracle The Monk, Zimbabwe born and Outback bred. 

     Highlights for BJX include two tours of "the Motherland" Ethiopia, performing with Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke in Europe and Australia (an association which won BJX and Mulatu "The Age Best Tour" award) Glastonbury and other great festivals. 

    The rhymes and chimes of Black Jesus Experience deliver the power and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Funk.

members  :

Enushu Taye

Peter Harper

Ian Dixon

Liam Monkhouse

Chris Frangou

Matt Head

Zac Lister

v.a. - Ethiopian Groove - The Golden Seventies [1994] [ethiopia]

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Iftin Band - Gabar ii Noqee [1970/80] [somalia]

Iftin Band - 70's Somalia Afro Groove

       This incredible recording was made available courtesy of John at Likembe. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication unearthing great music!

From Likembe ...

       I've said this before, but I'll repeat it: The coolest blog out there is Frank Soulpusher's Voodoo Funk. Frank travels throughout West Africa digging up old obscure soul and funk records by local musicians. He posts mixes of his discoveries that usually have me dropping my jaw in wonderment. . . Whaaaa?

         Of course, West Africa wasn't the only place that was obsessed with American-style R&B. Every African country had its own practitioners, some of them quite original. Ethiopia in particular created its own fusion of soul and traditional music that has drawn international acclaim.

         Twenty years ago I thought that Somalia was immune to the funk virus. There was one recording of Somali music on the market, Original Music's Jaamila (OMA 107, 1987), recordings of oud, flute and voice that were interesting but not especially funky. Somali friends loaned me static-filled cassettes of artists like Sahra Axmed and others that were in a similar vein. There was a wildly-popular genre of home-made cassettes of recitations of Somali poetry. I began to wonder if there even was such a thing as modern Somali music at all.

          Then my friend Ali handed me a cassette, an over-the-counter Sanyo stamped "Iftin." No case, no track listing; Ali couldn't even tell me anything about the group Iftin. He thought they may have been from northern Somalia, possibly from Djibouti or the Somali-speaking part of Ethiopia. But they definitely made modern Somali music.

           Since this was first posted, we have heard from a Mr. Saanag, who provides much valuable information on Iftin. He writes:

          Iftin ("Sunshine") was a big hit in Somalia in the 70's and 80's. Initially, they made theaters & schools "unsafe" with their brand of (slow) dance music and later discotheques & marriage ceremonies were conquered. It's one of the bands initiated by the Ministry of Education and Culture and they were based in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, where most of the band members originally came from. The lead singer with the "Woweeee!" hair is a Somali of Yemenite origins (does his Yemeni ancestry shed a little light on your remark?). He's called Shimaali and some of his solo efforts are on YouTube.Before I gave the tape back to Ali I dubbed it onto a 10-inch tape reel at WYMS-FM, where I used to do my radio program "African Beat." When I stopped doing the show in 2001 I had no way to listen to it, until now. I recently rented a reel-to-reel tape deck and have digitized it, so now I can give it to you!

   

 The "cassette cover" is an elaborate hoax. The picture on the front is taken from an album by Orlando Owoh from Nigeria, also taken from Likembe blog  

01 - Iftin Band - Gabar ii Noqee (Be my wife) (5:54)

02 - Iftin Band - Codkeennii Kala Halow (Our voices have lost each other) (3:55)

03 - Iftin Band - Haka Yeelin Nacabkeenna (Don't heed our enemies) (5:53)

04 - Iftin Band - Lamahuraan (Love is Indespensable) (5:18)

05 - Iftin Band - Weynoow (My Great love) (8:57)

06 - Iftin Band - Jacayl Iima Roona (Love is not right for me) (8:49)

07 - Iftin Band - Hir Aanii Dhowyen ma Halabsado (Longing to bridge the big distance) (4:41)

08 - Iftin Band - Caashaqa Maxay Baray? (Why get acquainted with love?) (6:35)

09 - Iftin Band - Baddaa Doon Baa Maraysoo (A fragile boat is rocking on that ocean) (7:23)

The Black Jesus Experience - Arada/Brand New World [2011] [EP] [australia+ethiopia]

The Black Jesus Experience - Arada

       Black Jesus Experience is an 8-10 piece band playing an irresistibly danceable blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st century groove. With backgrounds as diverse as the 5 continents the members of 'BJX' hail from, their music reflects the multicultural vibrancy of the band's hometown, Melbourne, Australia.

         When not touring BJX run a weekly session at cultural hub The Horn where BJX create new songs live on stage. The comfort BJX has with this practice lies in the improvising traditions of that feed BJX including hip hop, jazz, azmari and rutu pa'u.

           The music is also fed quite literally before each performance by the ritual of a group meal prepared by singer Enushu and MD Peter Harper in the Ethiopian tradition, "those who eat from the same plate will not betray each other". This inspires and reinforces bonds musical, social and spiritual, bonds BJX invite their audiences to join.

         Enushu began entertaining her local community as a child in Addis Ababa. Forced to leave Ethiopia, Enushu migrated to Australia bringing hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by her remarkable life story and the unique vocal traditions of Ethiopia. Enushu is joined on vocals by poetic giant and lyrical miracle The Monk, Zimbabwe born and Outback bred.

      Highlights for BJX include two tours of "the Motherland" Ethiopia, performing sellout shows with Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke in Europe and Australia (an association which won BJX and Mulatu "The Age Best Tour" award) Glastonbury, Big Chill, City Of London Festival, WOMADdelaide, the Big Day Out, Golden Plains and Melbourne International Jazz Festival and supporting Tony Allen among other great festivals.

        The rhymes and chimes of Black Jesus Experience deliver the power and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Funk.

   Discography :    

Dark Light (2009)

Yeluinta (2010)

Migration (2014)

    band members are :    

Enushu Taye - vocals
Peter Harper - tenor saxophone, composer
Ian Dixon - trumpet, flugelhorn, composer
Liam Monkhouse - mc/vocal
Chris Frangou - electric bass
Matt Head - drums
Hue Blanes - keyboards
Nashua Lee - electric guitar

                 listen Black Jesus Experience live stream here                

Dur Dur - Africa [somalia] [199?]

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originally posted here : Likembe

Dur Dur – Somali Music from the 1980’s

       This is a cassette of Dur Dur, a group from Somalia which was very popular in the 1980’s. When I first listened to it I was amazed by the sound which resembled very much 1970’s funk music. 

       John at Likembe writes about similar experiences. He presents also a lot of more information about Dur Dur in a another posting.

       Because of the civil war in Somalia the group had moved to Ethiopia where they published this cassette in the early 1990’s. As it was the practice at that time the cassette was published by a music shop. In this case it is a shop called Elham Video Electronics. The shop has two branches one in Negele, Borana and one in Addis Ababa. The first branch in Negele seems to be the main one. It is located in an area in southern Ethiopia, which is close to the Ogaden, i.e. the Somali region of Ethiopia.

THE MUSICIANS

       On the cover there are photos of four members of the group written in Latin and Ethiopic script: Zahra,Muktar, Abdinur and Qomal (or Komal). 

As with a lot of Somalian musicians and artists it is difficult to obtain mor e information about them. Therefor I would be happy for further information and comments about the group, its members and its music.

THE SONGS

       The cassette contains twelve songs, six on each side. The titles are given in Latin script on the inside, but listening to the songs it seems that the order of the titles is not correct. Therefore I changed the order of the lables of the 3., 4. and 5. song on the first, and of the 10. and 11. song on the second side. There may be further mistakes in the labeling.

01. Dur Dur - Shered (5:35)

02. Dur Dur - Abasho (5:32)

03. Dur Dur - Shelede (3:47)

04. Dur Dur - Tarik (4:26)

05. Dur Dur - Africa (6:00)

06. Dur Dur - African Music (4:49)

07. Dur Dur - Ethiopian Girl (4:44)

08. Dur Dur - Goromphmca (5:56)

09. Dur Dur - Ledenay (5:08)

10. Dur Dur - Hak Somalk Dumark (3:36)

11. Dur Dur - Kennea (5:20)

12. Dur Dur - Absho (5:41)

Nathan Daems - Black Flower [2012] [Live at Radio Urgent]

... Eccentric Ethiogroove ...

            With Black Flower, composer Nathan Daems created a remakable project. The compositions surprise in many ways, creating a true exotic sound with sensual melodies and melancholic feel. The result is an ecstatic party like you have never experienced before.

          Influenced by artists as Mulatu Astatke, Getatchew Mekurya and Fela Kuti, Black Flower floats in between the borders of ethiopique, jazz, afro, oriental and blues. 

             Soulful music with an eccentric and psychedelic identity.

1. Black Flower - Fly High, Oh My ! (5:19)

2. Black Flower - Mon Ange Diabolique (7:41)

3. Black Flower - Winter (5:39)

4. Black Flower - I Threw a lemon at that Girl (5:12)

5. Black Flower - Almaz (Mahmoud Ahmed) (4:58)

Black Flower is :

Nathan Daems - composition, saxophone

Jon Birdsong - cornet

Simon Segers - drums

Filip Vandebril - bass 

Wouter Haest - organ, clavinet

Nazarenes - Meditation [2012] [ethiopia-eritrea]

                Steeped in Rastafarian grooves, produced by a St. Croix native, and two brothers as singers, Noah and Medhane Tewolde, come from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

          The European-based brothers incorporate pan-African elements, island grooves, Jamaican jive, and pop-funk creations. 

           The reggae-inspired album contains jazzy influences, funky beats, and vivid vocals with meaningful lyrics and spiritual connotations. The lyrical worldplay and dancehall sound showcases Nazarenes diverse song repertoire with a laid-back, funky feel that is anything but boring. 

            Fourteen Jah-inspired musical tracks showcase the great amount of creativity and soulful inspiration that give Meditation a shining element that succeeds without a doubt.

01. Nazarenes - Meditation (4:42)
02. Nazarenes - Food (4:18)
03. Nazarenes - It's Too Late feat. Lutan Fyah (4:05)
04. Nazarenes - Mother (3:47)
05. Nazarenes - On My Way (4:11)
06. Nazarenes - The Lord Said feat. Midnite (4:56)
07. Nazarenes - Mamy Blues (4:31)
08. Nazarenes - Alive (4:03)
09. Nazarenes - Everlasting (4:26)
10. Nazarenes - Politrickcians (4:18)
11. Nazarenes - Get Together (3:35)
12. Nazarenes - Destiny (4:50)
13. Nazarenes - Lonesome Lady (3:41)
14. Nazarenes - Love Jah (4:13)

Tilahun Gessesse & Walias Band - Tilahun Gessesse with the Walias Band [1970 ?]

originally posted here : Awesome Tapes From Africa

Very limited edition LP with cool, silk-screened covers. 

           The liner notes provided helpful biographical information about this titan of Ethiopian music (Ethiopiques Vol. 17 is 100% Gessesse), but very little about the particular music on this record.

       I would date these recordings to the early 70s, maybe late 60s, judging by the groovy-heavy, almost proto-disco vibe of the songs and analog sound of the recordings. The basic MO here is: set up a tight, funky vamp then let Gessesse cut loose over the top. 

        Modern ears will delight at the production values which place the band in a swirl of reverb and give Gessesse's in-the-red vocals a heavy coat of gritty slap-back. The way everything sounds makes it easy to imagine hearing these songs performed at 3am in sweltering Ethiopian heat. Very nice LP, anyone with an interest in Ethiopian music will find a lot to like here, but the general funkiness (great basslines!) and upbeat rhythm of the songs make it pretty widely accessible.

Side A

1. Ye Minjar Lij (The girl from Minjar)

2. Keleleh Yelehem (You ain't got it if you don't got it)

3. Ere Fikir BeHig (In the name of Love)

4. Ye Tate Kelebet (The ring on my finger)

5. Tey Atabesachign (Please don't make me suffer)

Side B.

1. Endezih Hone Ende (Is this how it is)

2. Beterswa Shegnechign (She abandoned me with a smile)

3. Ewnetegna Fikir (True Love)

4. Katu Zemed Yelem (No one befriends the broke)

5. Hiwet Kanchi Aybeltem (Life is not more precious than you)

6. Bonus instrumental track

Quantic - Traditional Ethiopian selection by Quantic [2011]

           Quantic is an umbrella name for UK-born, Will Holland : acclaimed producer, musician, and DJ for over 15 years, who’s projects incorporate various influences, from funk & jazz to electronic & folk music, to Latin, reggae, dub and cumbia.  

         He recently put together this mix of rare 45s he found in Ethiopia, calling it ”a mix of folkloric and outer-regional music of Ethiopia, all 45s and some records that I think need to be heard. Less of breaks & wah wah and this time more of krar, claps, howling sounds and organ melodies. For fans of previous mixes Axum to Addis and Addis Sheckla Explosion.”  

        Listen to and download the whole mix by clicking on the link below, and let’s he hope he continues the crate digging!

Dereb Desalegn - Dereb The Ambassador [2010]

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                       Dereb The Ambassador (Dereb Desalegn)

       Dereb Desalegn is well known in his homeland of Ethiopia, but he now lives in Australia. This new album features songs from famous Ethiopian singers, traditional songs, and Dereb's own compositions. 

  

              Dereb Desalegn, also known as Dereb The Ambassador, is based in Sydney and originally derives from Ethiopa. Sydney producer Tony Buchen has put together this project for the whole world to enjoy, including Australia. Dereb is a renowned and well-respected artist in Ethiopa. So far, Aussies have responded enthusiastically to Dereb’s music and his fans keep multiplying.

                  Dereb’s self-titled album has come to knock on the door of your heart with its soulful timbre. His music is best described as raw, Ethiopian vintage soul and funk with a pinch of jazz and Motown vibes.

                   Although the language within the music is foreign, that does not hinder the listener to get the most from this rare musical experience. The album contains a good blend of party-like anthems and tranquility. Dereb takes the listener into his world for about forty-eight minutes of your life - if only it was longer.

         The music is complete with a 9-piece band with pre-1970s instruments and equipment, which produces uncommon and raw sounds. One can hear the richness of sound coming from the musical instruments used in this LP, some of which are the 5 piece horns, trumpets, percussion, drums and amazing guitar riffs with the electric guitar on tracks like “Gedawo (Traditional)” and “Setaleygn (Tilahun Gesese)”. The real rhythm of soul music is evident in the instrumental song “Yelage Tizeta (Mulatu Astaqe)” with the harmonious trumpet, the organ and drum beats.

      Most of the tracks on the LP are quite upbeat soul and funk rich in the use of instruments, however there is a beautiful acoustic track called “Hiwot (Tilahun Gesese)” which is quite a soothing track to listen to. The vocals, piano, clapping and African sekere are the sole and dominant sounds used in the track “Kulun (Traditional)”, which makes it such a smooth track to listen to.

      A really great adventure of an album!

01. Dereb Desalegn - Addis Ababa Bete (Alamayetu Eshete) (5:46)

02. Dereb Desalegn - Etu Gela (Tesfaye Lemissa) (4:03)

03. Dereb Desalegn - Ney Denun Tiseshe (Seyfu Hayle) (3:08)

04. Dereb Desalegn - Gonde (Dereb Desalegn) (3:15)

05. Dereb Desalegn - Kulun (Traditional) (4:32)

06. Dereb Desalegn - Setaleygn (Tilahun Gesese) (3:45)

07. Dereb Desalegn - Gedawo (Traditional) (4:17)

08. Dereb Desalegn - Yelage Tizeta (Mulatu Astaqe) (3:27)

09. Dereb Desalegn - Mela Mela (Traditional) (3:20)

10. Dereb Desalegn - Aynei (Dereb Desalegn) (5:28)

11. Dereb Desalegn - Hiwot (Tilahun Gesese) (4:21)