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

Le-alem Band - Le-alem Band [fin+eth]

       Le-alem Acoustic is, as the name suggests, an acoustic band from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia formed in 2014 G.C. It consists of friends with varied musical backgrounds. This band is reviving the powerful and melodic sound of classic Ethiopian music with a fusion of diverse foreign influences such as alternative, jazz and reggae.

     The varied musical tastes of the members gives the band a unique sound that is hard to classify into one genre. Their playlist mostly consists of songs from the “Swinging Addis” Era of Ethiopia from the 60’s to 70’s rearranged and modified to their own unique sound.

      Our sound is a combination of Scandinavian and Ethiopian tradition and carried out by showy instruments such as double bass, jouhikko, violins, acoustic guitar, kantele, masinko, bongo drums and Cajon box.

Le-alem Band - Ambassel Jam

Le-alem Band - 01 - Metch Dershae by Seifu Yohannes (4:18)

Le-alem Band - 02 - Fikir Ende Kirar Ethio Groove acoustic cover by Le alem acoustic (2:34)

Le-alem Band - 03 - Fikir Ende Kirar by Girma Beyene (3:27)

Le-alem Band - 03 - Woub Nat by Girma Beyene and Menilik Wessnachew (3:49)

Le-alem Band - 05 - Anchi Yene by Sami Dan (4:05)

Le-alem Band - 06 - Tsigereda by Seifu Yohannes (3:06)

Le-alem Band - 07 - Yekereme Fikir by Getachew Kassa (3:51)

Le-alem Band - 08 - Kalatashiw Akal by Teshome Assegid (3:52)

Le-alem Band - 09 - Vem Kan Segla and Ambassel Jam (5:57)

Mikimac (Jurry): lead vocals and percussion

Kidus Tamiru: acoustic guitar

Tariku Arega: violin, masinko

Henrica Fagerlund: double bass

Veronica Solje: backing vocals, violin, kantele

Filippa Salo: backing vocals, jouhikko

Nadav Haber Quartet - Addis Mist , A Journey Between Ethiopia and Jerusalem [2007] [israel+ethiopia]

         Nadav Haber started to learn the clarinet at the age of 10. In 1988-89 he lead a qaurtet in the Tel-Aviv clubs in Israel, and played in a blues duo. In the 90's nadav has switched to the tenor sax, and began to explore Ethiopian music. He played in Ethiopian dance bands all over Israel, in Ethiopian clubs and weddings. This has lead to the issue of Ethiopian Blues, and other smaller productions that were aimed at the Ethiopian Israeli market. 

          In recent years Nadav moved back to playing jazz, and in 2003 led a hard bop quintet in Jerusalem. He is currently working on two projects - an Ethiopian Jazz program and a “Favorite ballads” program.

Nadav Haber Quartet - Merkato

Nadav Haber Quartet - 01 - Merkato (6:23)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 02 - Revalation (8:40)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 03 - Reflection (9:09)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 04 - Rambling (8:33)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 05 - Limbo (8:42)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 06 - Sudan (6:16)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 07 - Arrival (7:02)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 08 - Tizita (9:03)
Nadav Haber Quartet - 09 - Prayer (12:38)

Temesgen - Begena Fusion [2012] [ethiopia]

              Temesgen was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has studied with Alemayehu Fanta and Teshome Shenkute at the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa. It is Temesgen's dream to keep alive the ancient musical traditions of Ethiopia. He is in the process of setting up a school to teach the Begena and the Krar.

Temesgen - Yibellahalla [Begena Fusion]

           A versatile singer-songwriter, Temesgen has begun to explore the frontiers of ethio-fusion. His non-traditional work is a soulful stew of reggae, ethiopian, and jazz. He is currently working on Begena Fusion, an album that features the begena in a modern milieu. And, Krarization a collection of popular contemporary songs re-interpreted with the help of the krar. Temesgen has also created instructional DVDs on how to play the krar and the begena.

Temesgen - 01 - Yibelahalla (3:11)

Temesgen - 02 - Dawit Bebegena (3:27)

Temesgen - 03 - Qiddus (3:48)

Temesgen - 04 - Meserete Zema (3:26)

Temesgen - 05 - Dirdera (5:27)

Temesgen - 06 - Maan Yimeramer (3:35)

Temesgen - 07 - Nu Nu (3:03)

Temesgen - 08 - Alayenim Belu (5:32)

Temesgen - 09 - Haadeego (2:26)

Temesgen - 10 - Abba Gragn (4:09)

Black Flower - Abyssinia Afterlife [2014] [b]

      Born out of a surreal experience and with strong devotion Black Flower takes you on a lucid voyage through the gardens of the Abyssinian afterlife. A highly remarkable place, far away from what you and I would call reality. It is a place where strange creatures and unfamiliar sounds merge into a harmony of the weird and the beautiful.

       It is said that these are the secret realms of the long past legendary ruler of Ethiopia, Sir Prester John. Some even claim that he composed these sounds as a way of ruling his ancient land. Whether this is fact or myth, nobody knows for sure...

     Now, for the first time, we have the chance to get a glimpse of this mystical empire. It is no secret any more that Nathan Daems has been chosen to witness this special place. Being such an overwhelming experience, he felt the urge, even the obligation, to share this with the real world. The result is a record he applicably called “Abyssinia Afterlife”.

     It was no easy task finding the right people for this job. In his years of musical exploration, Nathan kept searching for the right people to team up with. A challenging process, because they needed to embrace the idea of looking to music from a whole new perspective. They needed to be able to capture the Abyssinia Afterlife as if they had visited it them-selves. Finally he found four young and dedicated spirits who could do the job.

 This is the moment Black Flower was born.

  Black Flower - Upwards  

 Track list:

    1. Solar Eclipse 6:39 

    2. Upwards 4:59 

    3. I threw a lemon at that girl 5:20 

    4. Jungle desert 4:50 

    5. Winter 5:35 

    6. Star fishing 5:42 

    7. The legacy of Prester John 3:41 

    8. Again I lost it 4:57 

    9. Abyssinia afterlife 7:45

 Nathan Daems - Soprano saxophone, Tenor saxophone, Melodica, Flute 
 Jon Birdsong - Cornet 
 Simon Segers - Drums 
 Wouter Haest - Piano and keyboards 
 Filip Vandebril - Bass, Effects 

 [http://www.dewerfrecords.be/en/catalog/abyssinia-afterlife][http://www.jazzinbelgium.com/album/black.flower_abyssinia-afterlife]

 [http://www.discogs.com/master/view/681766]

BIG SHAWN - Ethiopian Album [2011] [usa+eth]

       

Big Shawn is musician from San Francisco, California, USA. He makes hip-hop/ rap/ instrumental music. Here is his extraordinary work from 2011 based on old ethiopian tunes and hits. 

I realy love this stuff!

Enjoy it!

visit his discography site : H E R E

BIG SHAWN - 01 (3:21)
BIG SHAWN - 02 (3:26)
BIG SHAWN - 03 (3:36)
BIG SHAWN - 04 (4:03)
BIG SHAWN - 05 (3:51)
BIG SHAWN - 06 (3:11)
BIG SHAWN - 07 (4:15)
BIG SHAWN - 08 (3:41)
BIG SHAWN - 09 (3:38)
BIG SHAWN - 10 (3:48)
BIG SHAWN - 11 (3:50)
BIG SHAWN - 12 (3:33)
BIG SHAWN - 13 (3:42)

Kibrom Birhane - Kibrom's Tizita [2014] [ethiopia]

visit his website here >  http://www.kibromusika.com/

             Kibrom Birhane is Ethiopian Pianist, Multi Instrumentalist / producer / songwriter / Record / Mix engineer, arranger and composer passionate about Ethiopian folk, world, pop, jazz and gospel music. 

                 Kibrom started his musical career in a very early stage of his life, and had the opportunity to work, perform and record with musicians from all over the world. While attending Los Angeles College of music, he was fortunate to learn under great musicians such as: Sean Halley (Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Marotta, Richard Marx), Andre Knecht, Andrew Murdock (Godsmack, Alice Cooper, Linkin Park), Dave Pozzi (Celine Dion, Diana Krall), Howie Shear (George Benson, Stevie Wonder), Tony Inzalaco (Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon) and many others.

Kibrom Birhane - Zelesegna  ዘለሰኛ

           Learning how to play the krar, a five stringed traditional Ethiopian lyre, at age 8, Kibrom Birhane found himself enthralled by Orthodox chanting. “Always it moves me when I hear music,” he says. And from that time on he knew he wanted to pursue a career in music. Kibrom eventually began teaching piano to other students for about three years before receiving a scholarship to attend the Los Angeles College of Music where he developed a passion beyond Ethiopian folk music, and became a songwriter and composer focusing on the fusion of Ethiopian folk with jazz and gospel sounds. His debut album entitled ‘Kibrom’s Tizita’ was recently released by Tsehai Records, a new division of Tsehai Publishers. Kibrom describes his new album as “an exploration of Ethiopian heritage through folk and pop music with a jazz backbone.”

           Kibrom is also a record and mixing engineer and says he “learned to play all of these different roles over time, and with that came new innovations” in his music and sound. His solo pieces are among his most personal works, and Kibrom shares that they are “an expression of what I feel at the moment. I don’t study or learn solos; I just play them.”

           Kibrom hopes to reach the younger generation with his music. He sees the power of fusion as a way to expose individuals to Ethiopian music while adopting a style that is already familiar to them (such as jazz). Kibrom has already garnered some success including writing the score for the documentary film ‘Sincerely Ethiopia,’ singing in the award-winning documentary ‘Get Together Girls,’ and composing music for the documentary on the African Union’s 50th year celebration.

     “The raw sincerity of Birhane’s music seeks to make strong connections with listeners as they are transported on a musical journey. And a journey it is – Kibrom uses Ethiopian scales, which are rarely heard in Western music. The distinct nature of these scales makes for hypnotic listening,” states Tsehai Records.

Kibrom Birhane - 01 - Pending Prayer (4:06)

Kibrom Birhane - 02 - Yonas Gorfe Tribute (5:10)

Kibrom Birhane - 03 - Simagne Hageree (4:25)

Kibrom Birhane - 04 - Wazema (5:26)

Kibrom Birhane - 05 - Broken but Beautiful (10:06)

Kibrom Birhane - 06 - Jiret (7:02)

Kibrom Birhane - 07 - Psalm 92 (4:47)

Kibrom Birhane - 08 - Kibrom's Tizita (feat. Etsegenet Mekonnen) (5:03)

Kibrom Birhane - 09 - Zelesegna (4:30)

Kibrom Birhane - 10 - Ambassel (feat. Etsegenet Mekonnen) (4:34)

New Constellations - [2014] - New Constellations [usa]

         New Constellations is an original, all instrumental band from Chicago, IL. Their sound combines East + North African melodies, Afro-Cuban rhythms, psychedelic + ambient textures, and American roots music. Memorable hooks and melodies are balanced with a flair for improvisation. Ideal music for either a party atmosphere, or as chill background music.

             Some acts members of New Constellations have previously been or are currently involved with are : Ted Sirota's Heavyweight Dub, Frank Catalano/Jimmy Chamberlin, Joe Pug, The Interiors, Van Ghost, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Rebel Roots.

     Original, all instrumental Global Psych music. The New Constellations sound combines Ethiopian + North African melodies, soulful Afro-Cuban rhythms, psychedelic + ambient textures, and American roots music. Memorable hooks and melodies are balanced with a flair for improvisation. Ideal music for either a party atmosphere, or as chill background music

Band members: 

Rocco Labriola - Pedal steel, other

Brian Lubinsky - Fender bass

Andy Miller - Guitar

Chris Paquette - Percussion

01 - New Constellations - The Dissident (5:19)

02 - New Constellations - Dash (5:11)

03 - New Constellations - Piano Rats (6:12)

04 - New Constellations - Rift Valley (4:51)

05 - New Constellations - Electric Kilo (7:22)

06 - New Constellations - Goat Story (8:21)

Kazanchis + 1 - [2014] - Live @ Taktlos festival, Zurich 05-25

Trio Kazanchis - Nanu Nanu Neye

       Trio Kazanchis got together by coincidence in 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's musical hotspot while playing jam sessions in Melaku Belay's Club Fendika and Mulatu Astatke's own African-Jazz Club before touring Europe in underground venues and related festivals.

  

      Kazanchis +1 plays songs with an Ethiopian origin, either modern or traditional, and a European '80s touch, combined with free energetic improvisation using highly-developed Ethiopian pentatonic scales, from slow and trance-like to up-tempo, energetic moods. The band's choice of instruments presented itself on European stages as very elastic, nicely melting together, and also as a challenging combination -- all-in-all successful. 

     Mesele Asmamaw, described as the Jimi Hendrix of the electric krar (the 6-string Ethiopian lyre), has become known as an innovator & virtuoso of his instrument in Ethiopia. Fabien Duscombs, the quicksilver drummer from Toulouse lays down the perfect grid for Mesele to play his syncopating accents. Jeroen Visser glues the two tightly together, providing bass and chords with his Farfisa organ/synth, or challenges their sounds with his baritone sax. Since the summer of 2013, the amazing masinqo-player (a one-stringed violin) Endris Hassen has become a full member of the group, completing the sound and surprisingly even reinforcing the trio-feel.

     Trio Kazanchis’ Mèssèlè Asmamaw has been selected as 2013 Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist at www.africanjazz.info.

01 - Kazanchis + 1 - Sadulay (6:19)

02 - Kazanchis + 1 - announcement (0:53)

03 - Kazanchis + 1 - Agerva Wasa Megena (6:04)

04 - Kazanchis + 1 - announcement (0:12)

05 - Kazanchis + 1 - Astawesalehu (7:23)

06 - Kazanchis + 1 - Ayne Hulgize Yesasaleshal [fadeout] (4:36)

Mulatu Astatke - [2002] - Echos of Ethiopia [ethiopia]

Mesele Asmamaw (Ethiopian Traditional Instrumental Music)

Creative music with Ethiopian roots 

composed and arranged by Mulatu Astatke

1 Embilta
2 Begena
3 Tigre
4 Wollo
5 Gondar
6 Gojam
7 Minjar
8 Harari
9 Afar

10 Somali

11 Harar

12 Orowo

13 Sidama

14 Wolaita

15 Derashe

16 Gurage

17 Assosa

18 Gambella

Dub Colossus - [2014] - Addis to Omega [uk + ethiopia]

Addis To Omega - Dub Colossus Soundsystem

         Although Dub Colossus made their name fusing Ethiopian music with reggae and funk, in this, their fourth album, band leader Nick Page has rung a change in focus: a departure from the home of Rastafari icon Haile Selassie I for a thorough exploration of Jamaican influenced sounds.

      Addis to Omega is bursting with funk-influenced reggae and stripped back dub, brash dancehall, jumping ska, and sincere lethargic grooves.

         The album opens with Nick Page's alter ego Dubulah's bold fuzzy bass and Joseph Cotton's post-Rastafarian vocals on Boom Ka Boom (and the Dub Disciples). At first appearances a strong dancehall track, key changes and eerie chord progressions hint at further depth.

        The record continues to feature prominent vocals, but Dub Colossus are at their strongest on their instrumental pieces Soft Power, Tale of 2 Cities, and the epic Orpheus Underground. Without the distraction of accomodating authentic vocals and traditional song structures a space is formed for composition, open improvisation and more profound mood changes.

    Although recognisably following a reggae-based theme, the impressive and diverse collection of contributors on the release occasionally introduces a surprise. Natacha Atlas and Samy Bishai bring a more exotic sound on The Shape of Things to Come - a song more Arabian than Carribean - or the atmospheric A Voice Has Power featuring the mesmerising low rumbling vocal work of Albert Kuvezin.

       Family Man and the title track give the brass contributors Horns of Negus time to develop classic long brass chordal lines, while the funky Fight Back provides opportunity for Ben Somers to channel Maceo in his tenor solo.

A well-executed exercise in reggae-fusion, Addis to Omega is a fifteen track journey through the many facets of its sub-genres. Afro-beat percussion and pentatonic Ethio-Jazz have been swapped for political lyrics, fast-paced reggae and clean dub. While Dub Colossus have undeniably changed musical tack, the original twists and large collective approach remain the same.

review by Dan Bergsagel

Dub Colossus - Boom Ka Boom (and the Dub Disciples) (4:21)
Dub Colossus - Family Man (3:53)
Dub Colossus - The Casino Burning Down (5:05)
Dub Colossus - We Are the Playthings of the Rich and Famous (4:05)
Dub Colossus - Fight Back (4:42)
Dub Colossus - Addis to Omega (Amnesis Mix) (5:33)
Dub Colossus - Keep On Rocking (6:17)
Dub Colossus - Soft Power (4:17)
Dub Colossus - Madmen (3:50)
Dub Colossus - Mi Dad (3:18)
Dub Colossus - A Tale of Two Cities (4:34)
Dub Colossus - The Shape of Things to Come (5:46)

Dubulah (Nick Page):

drums, bass, guitars, vocals, keyboards, Dub FX, programming, percussion; 

Nick Van Gelder: drums; 

Dani Fabregas: drums; 

Winston Blissett: bass, vocals; 

Sebastian Martinez: bass; 

Bernard O’Neill: double bass, piano; 

PJ Higgins: vocals; 

Mykael S. Riley; vocals; 

Toby Mills: keyboards, percussion; 

Tim Whelan: piano, zither; 

Horns of Negus (Ben Somers, Neil Waters, Bob Dowell): 

brass and woodwind; 

Paul Chivers: percussion, drums, keyboards; 

Harry Brown; trombone; 

Orphy Robinson: vibraphone; 

Samy Bishal: violin; 

Boleslaw Usarzewski: mandolins;

Simon Smith: melodica.