Endris Hassen (The Ex, Ethiocolor, Imperial Tiger Orchestra, Nile Project, MistO-MistO etc) and Cory Seznec (Groanbox, Seznec Bros, solo, MistO-MistO, etc) joined forces in late 2014 to fuse sounds from east and west Africa. Hungry for a fuller sound, they brought in Misale Legesse (Ethiocolor, Addis Acoustic Project, etc) on kebero and Cass Horsfall on bass (Black Jesus Experience, Jazmaris, etc) to flesh things out and create Damakase, a name which comes from a plant used in traditional medicine in Ethiopia to heal "gunfan" (cold/flu) and other ailments.
By late 2015 they had enough songs for an album, and asked Kenny Allen to come in as producer.
Gunfan Yellem! (translated roughly as Fever No More!) is an album recorded live in Cory's Glasshouse Studios.
Guest artists were invited to add a little spice here and there, and Kenny fine tuned and tweaked the mix to perfection.
The music is comprised of 6 originals and two covers (Wuba by the Eritrean composer Tewelde Redda, and Mother's Love by the Ethiopian pianist Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou).
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)
Belaynesh Wubante & Assegedetch Asfaw: Ereye Demamu/Belayiye / Sabiye Philips PH 213 A Belaynesh Wubante & Assegedetch Asfaw: Ereye Demamu/Belayiye – Amharic Arranged by Mulatu Astatke Philips PH 213 B Belaynesh Wubante & Assegedetch Asfaw: Sabiye – Amharic Written by Belaynesh / Assegedetch Arranged by Mulatu Astatke Year: 1974 Record pressed in Nairobi, Kenya by East African Records Ltd.
