Minyeshu & Chewata - Estival jazz , Mendrisio [1-7-2006]

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Debo Band - Live on WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Bob Weisberg [2009]

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       Since 2006, Debo Band has thrilled Boston-area audiences with their unique interpretations of classic Ethiopian popular music. Their performances bring together the best of the last forty years of Ethiopian music, with a reverence for the vintage sounds of the 1970s and a commitment to discovering contemporary gems, as well as developing new compositions – they scored the Ethiopian-produced short film, “Lezare,” in 2009. The band paid their dues playing neighborhood bars, church basements, and loft parties, and has emerged as an internationally recognized touring band, with performances at two international festivals in the last year alone.

       Up until now, Debo Band has primarily existed as a live band, playing at venues across the Boston/New England region. Last year, however, Debo began taking steps towards actively documenting and releasing recordings and is also working with a documentary filmmaker on a project about the band’s mission to bring Ethiopian music and musicians to the forefront of world music. Additionally, Debo Band is currently producing a CD/DVD set and LP version of live performances recorded in Boston, New York, and East Africa.

       In May 2009, Debo traveled to Addis Ababa to perform at the 8th Ethiopian Music Festival and several other locations throughout the Horn and East Africa. These performances affected Debo Band’s creative and professional development in significant ways, particularly in the collaboration they began with several traditional musicians – vocalist Selamnesh Zemene, drummer Asrat Ayalew, and dancers Zinash Tsegaye and Melaku Belay. All accomplished musicians in their own right, these musicians work together at Fendika, a leading azmari bet, or traditional music house, operated by Melaku in Addis Ababa. When working with these four musicians 

       Debo Band grows into a forceful, energetic, and authoritative fourteen-piece ensemble capable of delightful, one-of-a-kind performances. The full ensemble (Debo Band plus Fendika, or “FenDeboKa”) recently performed several concerts in Addis Ababa and at the 7th Sauti za Busara Festival in Zanzibar (February 2010).

1. Debo Band - Akale Wube [trad.] (4:53)
2. Debo Band - Yene Neger [Gossaye Tesfaye] (5:39)
3. Debo Band - Adderech Arada [Menelik Wossenachew] (5:18)
4. Debo Band - Ambassel [trad.] (7:19)
5. Debo Band - Addis Ababa Bete [Alemayehu Eshete] (6:22)
6. Debo Band - Lantchi Biye [Tilahoun Gessesse] (4:03)
7. Debo Band - Musicawi Silt [Walias Band] (5:09)
8. Debo Band - Embwa Belew [Muluken Melesse] (4:43)

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

Imperial Tiger Orchestra - remixed [2013] [swiss-ethiopia]

1. Djemeregne (Imperial Tiger Orchestra) remix (4:14)
2. Yedao (Imperial Tiger Orchestra) remix (4:59)
3. Djemeregne (Canblaster Tribal mix) (4:20)

Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Tsehay [1997] [ethiopia]

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       Ejigayehu Shibabaw, Gigi as she is popularly known, is an Ethiopian singer who originates with her music in the ancient tradition of song in the Ethiopian Church. After she moved to the US where she recorded two albums, it was her self-titled album ‘Gigi’ (2001) with Chris Blackwell (Palm Pictures) and producer Bill Laswell that caused her international break-through. The album contains collaborations of musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Pharoah Sanders and harbours a fusion of contemporary and traditional sounds. The album generated controversy in her home country for such a radical break with Ethiopian popular music. 

       With Abyssinia Infinite containing virtuous African musicians such as Senegalese percussionist Aiyb Dieng, tabla-player Karsh Kale, Ethiopian saxophonist Moges Habte and Tony Cedras and Bill Laswell, Gigi released the album ‘Zion Roots’ (2003). To Ethiopians Zion as spoken of in the Bible, is Ethiopia. ‘Zion Roots’ thus implies music rooted deep in Ethiopian culture. The album was a return to a mainly acoustic sound, incorporating instruments such as the krar and the tabla, which where replaced by synthesizers and drum machines during the Derg regime, when musicians where imprisoned. 

        Gigi’s return to her family roots. Its lyrics are in Amharic and the rarely spoken Agewña , the language of Gigi's father's tribe. 

           Gigi also released ‘Illuminated Audio’ (2001), ‘Gold and Wax’ (2006) and ‘Mesgana Ethiopia’ (2010). 

    

       "I grew up singing in the Ethiopian Church, which is actually not allowed for women, but there was a priest at my home who taught me how to sing the songs. And I listen to a lot of West African music, South African music, hip hop, and funk, so you feel all that in the melodies. Even if it's in Amharic, people can appreciate this music." 

          
                             

       Fifth child in a family of ten, Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw was raised in a far-off hamlet by conscientious parents who'd turned their backs on the squalor of the city. Her family's life was directly dependent on the water from the river Ardi to irrigate their coffee plant crops. "I always knew I wanted to be a singer," she recalls. "We always had a lot of entertainment in my house. When people would come over, my parents would have the kids perform for them." 

        A loyal daughter with a rebellious streak -- some things truly are universal -- Gigi sought her artistic fortunes abroad when her tradition-minded father initially forbade her to make way in the world as an entertainer. Living first in Nairobi, Kenya, and performing with an Ensemble of East African expats, performing with an Ensemble of East African expats, Gigi returned to Addis Ababa, where she quickly established herself as a singer and songwriter to be reckoned with. 

       Cast in a French theatre production of the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, which featured an all-Ethiopian ensemble, Gigi toured East and South Africa, and eventually France, where she was invited to perform at a Paris World Music Festival. Seeing the world stage as her true home, Gigi relocated to San Fransisco at age 24. It wasn't long before her music, released for the local Ethiopian community, caught the attention of Chris Blackwell, Palm Pictures founder.

       Her music derives from celebrations of Genna (Ethiopian Christmas), when men and women used to assemble at her home for two months of feasting, games, and of course, zefen (songs) and chifera (group dancing). Her poetry is inspired by the land, by scripture, the ancient Ethiopian church, and the beauty of the Ethiopian civilization.

01. Gigi - Ya-batu (6:23)

02. Gigi - Africa (4:15)

03. Gigi - Yafaf'lie-Adey (5:56)

04. Gigi - Arattu-Berehi (4:38)

05. Gigi - Sahara Bereha (6:29)

06. Gigi - Addis-Addisoon (5:33)

07. Gigi - Manew-Lebae (6:11)

08. Gigi - Tsehay (5:20)

09. Gigi - Kemaru-Sitegn (7:11)

10. Gigi - Lebe-Tsenu-new (7:26)

Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Addis Abeba [swiss-ethiopia] [2010]

       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.

1. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Bati (Traditionnel) (4:48)
2. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Djemeregne (Muluqen Melesse) (4:05)
3. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Etu Gela (Mahmoud Ahmed) (4:41)
4. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Harer Dire Dewa (Abonesh Adinew) (5:17)
5. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Selam Temagwet (Tekle Tesfa-Ezghi) (5:36)
6. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Aha Gedawo (Getatchew Mekurya) (9:10)
7. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Emnete (Live - Mulatu Astatqe) (6:32)
8. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Bati (Live - Traditionnel) (4:41)