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

Anbessa Orchestra - Negestat [2018] [usa+eth]

       Anbessa Orchestra is a 7 piece band based in Brooklyn NY that draws its inspiration from the diverse musical culture of Ethiopia, combining these unique sounds with the more western sounds of Funk, Jazz, R&B and Rock. The band has been a prominent figure on the NY scene and has played alongside legendary Ethiopian keyboardist and composer Hailu Mergia. The band has also been featured on the "Beyond Addis Vol.2" compilation featuring new music inspired by Ethiopia.

​

"No one does Ethio-Jazz quite like Anbessa Orchestra" - Popmatters.com

Anbessa Orchestra Live at National Sawdust - LIONS

     In the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, during the 1960’s and ‘70s, the sounds of American jazz and James Brown-style funk rocketed through the clubs there, combining with Ethiopia’s own exotic scales to produce the golden age of Ethiopian pop. The New York-based 7-piece band Anbessa Orchestra draws from this era and aims to take the listener on a musical journey from Addis Ababa to Brooklyn, with the loping grooves, buoyant brass lines, moody organ, crisp guitars, and solid percussion. Their new album is called "Negastat", which means “Kings” and it is full of Ethiopian-style, horn-heavy funk. 

Anbessa Orchestra - 01 - Negestat (Kings) (5:59)

Anbessa Orchestra - 02 - Gurage (3:42)

Anbessa Orchestra - 03 - Gize Suite (6:16)

Anbessa Orchestra - 04 - Get'err (Village) (4:47)

Anbessa Orchestra - 05 - K'edema (City) (2:35)

Anbessa Orchestra - 06 - Yeleleu Hager Lidl (Son of No Country) (6:00)

Anbessa Orchestra - 07 - T'sahai (Sun) (3:29)

Anbessa Orchestra - 08 - Gurage *Single (3:42)

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)

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)

Girum Gizaw [aka Tinishu Girum] - [2016] - Color [ethiopia] [2008EC]

       Girum Gizaw is one of the renowned jazz artists in Ethiopia. After he got his first degree from the music college in Addis, He directly started to play jazz music in different band. He has over ten years of experience in music industry. During those years he has performed with various well known bands in the country such as Blue Notes and Axumite. Girum founded a band called Meleket six years ago. The band has become one of the regular features of Addis’s jazz music scene and offers a brand of “Ethio-Jazz” music that is built upon a seamless fusion of jazz tunes with Southern Ethiopian Ethnic rhythms and musical arrangements.

Girum Gizaw - Color

       Girum Gizaw who is one of the well-known young Ethiopian jazz guitarist and composer to release his long awaited album this June titled Kelem or Colors. Growing up in the church Girum got exposed to music at early age.

         Having more deep and rich blend of sounds Girum’s playing  easily connect  whether you are a professional musician or a lay music lover you will clearly notice this distinct sound that separating him from what you are normally used to hearing.

           Girum  explains this by reveling that his music is not only derived from different techniques and forms of playing taken from what he’s observed from other African sounds but also by extracting the different African dialects and the accentuations of different individual sub divisions of tribes. His musical interpretation of languages of this multi-cultural continent makes his music one of a kind and creates a mystical and unforgettable journey in to the unfamiliar world of creativity and beauty that defines Africa in her wholeness.

       It is clear for anyone who listens to the sounds of this young, deeply talented musician that his biggest form of reflection comes from the southern part of Ethiopia. To this he accredits his biggest inspiration “the godfather of Ethio-Jazz” Mulatu Astatke. And the icing on the cake was when Girum had the chance to perform on the same stage with this living legend. He says it’s a moment like no other and one he’ll never forget.133

      While it is safe to say that Girum has come a long way with his music in his short years it was no smooth sailing. To him his biggest achievement is his band, Meleket Band. This band has been around for the past 7 years and it is one of the very few all jazz bands in the country. Their style focuses on the different Ethiopian cultural sounds with a fusion of jazz creating an amazing blend of experimental Ethiopian jazz. This is no new thing for Ethiopia but for sure anyone who has ever heard this band perform will attest to their creative interpretation. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that they’ve defiantly redefined the narrow understanding of Ethio-Jazz that people had.

         What makes this band special for Girum is that this band came at a crucial time for him. After graduating from Music school, Girum had joined a few pop bands just to make a little extra cash. After that he joined a Jazz band called Blue note yet this band also stopped performing after working together for 2 years. It was hard for Girum to get back up and start yet another band. But it was during this time he got together with two of his close friends Abiy W/mariyam and Mebratu Shewa and created the now amazing band Meleket. And after 7 years of performing together they are still high and running to this day. This is a true, inspirational achievement for not only the members of the band but to all other aspiring musicians.

        Girum Gizaw’s life is defiantly like an exhilarating and freeing roller coaster ride. That has its own share of challenges and victories. And Girum has tried very hard to depict all these moments in his upcoming Album.

Ethioda - Tezet Reset [2016] [fra+eth]

            Ethioda is an amazing music band from Montpellier in the south of France. 

        This crew will rock your body and soul with ethiopian scales inspired vibrations wittyly mixed up with Afrobeat, Funk, Jazz, and good mood

Ethioda (feat. Macsinge) - Azmari

Ethioda - 01 - Ambassel Groove (4:14)

Ethioda - 02 - (Satie a dit ça) Beba (6:04)

Ethioda - 03 - Pentatiopik (4:59)

Ethioda - 04 - Azmari (4:23)

Ethioda - 05 - Echi (2:46)

Ethioda - 06 - Taaba (7:26)

Ethioda - 07 - Respecto (5:03)

Ethioda - 08 - Reset Tezet (1:47)

Ethioda - 09 - Tezet Reset (6:29)

Ethioda - 10 - Ethiodawa (6:25)

Ethioda - 11 - Opale (6:54)

Daniel Moreau (keyboards & composition) 

Baptiste Clerc (guitar & composition) 

Armel Courrée (saxophones & composition) 

Pascal Bouvier (trombone) 

Romain Delorme (bass, ms20) 

Julien Grégoire (drums) 

Eric Durand (percussions) 

+ 

Muyiwa Kunudji (trumpet) 

Maore (voice) 

Macsinge (voice) 

v.a. - Beyond Addis 02 [Modern Ethiopian Dance Grooves Inspired By Swinging Addis] [2016]

Anbessa Orchestra - Lions

01. Karl Hector & The Malcouns - Kingdom of D'mt 3:15 
02. The Daktaris - Musicawi Silt 3:04 
03. The Sorcerers - Cave of Brahma 3:39 
04. Debre Damo Dining Orchestra - Yesega Wat 2:56 
05. Jungle By Night - Ethiopino 3:32 
06. Onom Agemo And The Disco Jumpers - Cool Runnings 5:16 
07. Tezeta Band - The Viper 4:09 
08. Akalé Wubé feat. Manu Dibango - Anbessa 3:42 
09. The Transgressors - The Biz 3:02 
10. Les Frères Smith - Zilzil 7:21 
11. The Whitefield Brothers - Safari Strut 3:21 
12. Cosmic Analog Ensemble - Stuzzicadenti 2:23 
13. Karl Hector & The Malcouns - Followed Path 4:47 
14. Anbessa Orchestra - Lions 4:50

v.a. - [2016] - In Ethio Mood Again by (Nicky Vour) [ethiopia]

Originally posted here

Outstanding mixtape of recent Ethio jazz sound.

Girum Gizaw - Color

01. Longing - Jorga Mesfin
02. Curtain of Light - Jonovan Cooper
03. Fikir - Ras Deshen
04. Bati Bati - Abyssinia Infinite
05. Ambassel - Debo Band
06. Sabiye - Badume's Band & Selamnesh Zemene
07. Kiraren Bikagnew - Sounds Of Saba
08. St. Yared Of Axum - The Nile Project
09. Atamba Sil - The Lalibelas
10. Ambassel - Girum Gizaw
11. Yonas Gorfe Tribute - Kibrom Birhane
12. Tché Bèlèw - Le Tigre (des Platanes) & Etenesh Wassie
13. Garuda - Nomade Orquestra
14. Kasalèfkut Hulu - Sun Hop Fat 
15. Addis Mist - Nadav Haber
16. Addis Blues - Marabout Orkestra
17. Mott Adeladlogn - Misto-Misto
18. Fikratchin - Akalé Wubé
19. Metche new - Ethioda
20. Fit Le Fit - Arat Kilo
21. Ethiopix - Fous qui rêvent
22. Girl from Ethiopia - Feedel Band
23. Yegle Nesha - Hailu Mergia

Jonovan Cooper - [2015] - Suite Abyssinia [usa+eth]

       Dr. Jonovan Thomarcas Cooper

       Jonovan Cooper, a native of Windsor, NC USA, started playing music while in Kindergarten where his mother introduced him to the keyboard. Using the keyboard (organ) that she bought for him, he practiced and began making appearances in his local church playing and singing. He later began taking piano lessons and when he became old enough, he joined his school band. That’s when he picked up the saxophone, which became his instrument of choice. Despite an accident  in the 8th grade that almost ended his career before it even started, he kept pursuing his dreams of playing professionally. He played throughout high school, studied Jazz at North Carolina Central University, Music Education at Norfolk State University and Saxophone at The American Conservatory. He thus acquired his BM, MM and DMA degrees and even studied Business Administration at American Intercontinental University where he received his MBA.

       Jonovan was a member of the US Navy where he was stationed in the Atlantic Fleet Band in Norfolk, VA. There he lived for about six years also playing in local bands including “Right On,” a seventies show band well known throughout the US and countries around the world and his own jazz quintet. He also volunteered in the music ministry at his local church, “Calvary Revival Church” in Norfolk. 

      Later Jonovan moved to Orangeburg, SC after being hired as an Assistant Professor of Music Industry at South Carolina State University. There he also served as assistant band director and director of the university jazz ensembles (both vocal jazz and instrumental jazz ensembles). He taught there for four years before leaving for Ethiopia in 2008. After his initial move, Jonovan somehow found himself sailing around the world playing on cruise ships for Princess Cruises where he managed to see six of the seven continents within a time span of less than two years. 

Jonovan Cooper - Anchihoye For His Majesty

       Finally in 2011, Jonovan settled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he taught music at a local international school and at a seminary school in the city. He also kept a heavy performance schedule throughout the city while taking care to learn the local music and giving it its due respect. He was so intrigued by Ethiopian music from the beginning that he made it a point to learn and write new compositions solely around the modes and rhythms of the country. Now Jonovan ministers through music at Beza International Church where he directs the music department. He also is an assistant professor of music at Yared School of Music, Addis Ababa University and teaches at Jazzamba School of Music. 

      While in Addis Jonovan has performed with several musicians and singers including Mulatu Astatke, Kalkidan Tilahun (Lily), Samuel Tesfamichael, and Dawit Getachew. In spite of all the teaching and music directing, Jonovan still manages to study the music of Ethiopia and has managed to record his first project under his own name, “Suite Abyssinia", which features various rhythms and modes of Ethiopia. He currently lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with his wife and children.

       In the words of Jonovan,

“Music should move people spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I choose, therefore, to strive to always affect people in a positive manner acknowledging my spiritual inspirations in my compositions and performances. I dare not claim to have some power to move people, however, people are moved when I perform.  That, my friends, is not me but the God in me. My philosophy as a musician is to tell a story that the audience can relate to. Through this philosophy, I am able to be innovative and entertaining simultaneously."

Jonovan Cooper - 01 - ደስታ የኔ ነው (Joy is Mine) (8:42)

Jonovan Cooper - 02 - ተነሱና አመስግኑት (Get Up & Praise Him!) (11:23)

Jonovan Cooper - 03 - ብርሃናዊ መጋርጃ (Curtain of Light) (8:03)

Jonovan Cooper - 04 - 150 በጉራጊኛ… (150 With Guragegna…) (9:36)

Jonovan Cooper - 05 - አንቺሆዬ ለልኡሉ (Anchihoye For His Majesty) (7:27)

Jonovan Cooper - 06 - አማን ይሁን (Let There Be Peace) (6:12)

Jonovan Cooper - 07 - እንቁ የሆነ (Priceless) (6:41)

Jonovan Cooper - 08 - ኢትዮ ገነት (Ethio-Heaven) (9:16)