Black Jesus Experience - Migration [2014] [aus+eth]

       BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE (BJX) is an eight piece band playing an irresistibly danceable blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st Century groove. With backgrounds as diverse as the 5 countries the members of BJX hail from, their music reflects the multicultural vibrancy of the band’s hometown, Melbourne, Australia.

       Singer Enushu Taye 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 Mr Monk, Zimbabwe born and Outback bred.

Black Jesus Experience - ETHIOBOP

        When not touring BJX run a weekly session at cultural hub The Horn creating new songs live on stage featuring guest artists from all walks of life. The comfort BJX has with this practice lies in the improvising traditions of that feed BJX including Hip Hop, Jazz, Azmari and Funk.

        They have recently released their 5th studio album, a collaboration with their long time mentor, the inventor of Ethio-Jazz: Mulatu Astatke. The album Cradle of Humanity was recorded and mixed across 3 continents and completed at the end of their East Africa tour in 2015, including performances at MTN Bushfire Festival (Swaziland), AZGO Festival (Mozambique) and African Union Expo (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

       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.

Black Jesus Experience - 01 - Smile (3:31)

Black Jesus Experience - 02 - Africa (4:43)

Black Jesus Experience - 03 - Bati (3:52)

Black Jesus Experience - 04 - Migration (6:12)

Black Jesus Experience - 05 - Ethio Bop (5:23)

Black Jesus Experience - 06 - Ichilalo (4:25)

Black Jesus Experience - 07 - Mother Earth (4:35)

Black Jesus Experience - 08 - Gimash Akarley (3:19)

Black Jesus Experience - 09 - After (4:47)

Black Jesus Experience - 10 - BB (5:09)

Elsa Kidane - Tezezta Fiqri vol. 3 [2007] - [eritrea]

Elsa Kidane - Tezezta Fiqri

Elsa Kidane - 01 - Tezezta Fiqri (7:47)
Elsa Kidane - 02 - Zeban Fiqri (6:48)
Elsa Kidane - 03 - Jobae (7:11)
Elsa Kidane - 04 - Kotsera (6:48)
Elsa Kidane - 05 - Azizeni (4:52)
Elsa Kidane - 06 - Tealiya (5:52)
Elsa Kidane - 07 - Ente Belkuka (7:18)
Elsa Kidane - 08 - Weldo Fikri (5:37)
Elsa Kidane - 09 - Shebab (6:23)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - Zagol [2011] [ethiopia]

       Born in Shashemene but originating from Bahir Dar, Eritbu (Solomon) Agegnehu’s heritage is of the rich tradition of Azmari. He began singing and playing masinqo under the tutorage of his father Agegnehu Askenaw, a well-known and accomplished Azmari. Eritbu moved to Addis Ababa at the age of 19 in pursuit of his musical dreams, creating a name for himself as an Azmari, performer and artist.

Eritbu "Solomon" Agegnehu - Wayne Wayne

         His first album release was 2011’s "Zagol", which included the singles "Borena" and "Yeawi Lig". This was followed soon afterward by “Woyne Woyne”, which was and still is a big hit throughout Ethiopia. The following year he released the fusion single and accompanying video clip “Seyba Seyba” with bassist and producer Cassawarrior and later released “Wondome Hoy”, in which he sings of the respect deserved to women.

      

   One of Eritbu’s driving ambitions is to return live instrumentation to the ears of the Ethiopian people, as well as to engage in fresh collaborations with international artists. 

His performance history includes shows at Selam Festival, tours with Black Jesus Experience, a support show with Gigi, as well as collaborations with Badume Band, Magabo and Meklit Handro.

    His latest album release “Besentu?” is further evidence of Eritbu’s development in character, technique and sound.

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 01 - Gerado (5:50)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 02 - Ney Ney Bemela (5:20)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 03 - Aguremereme (4:09)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 04 - Borena (5:21)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 05 - Minjar (5:50)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 06 - Gonder (5:28)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 07 - Beza (5:44)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 08 - Zagol (5:13)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 09 - Chemboa (4:56)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 10 - Abet Firhat (5:15)

Ertibu 'Solomon' Agegnehu - 11 - Ney Ney Mewdede (6:01)

Hirut Bekele - Hirut Bekele with Dahlak Band [1973] [ethiopia]

Hirut Bekele - Zemewal goradew

Hirut Bekele - 01 - Shgeye [ሸግዬ] (3:29)
Hirut Bekele - 02 - Zemewal goradew [ዘሟል ጐራዴው] (4:55)
Hirut Bekele - 03 - Yetedar melekyaye [የትዳር መለከያ] (5:51)
Hirut Bekele - 04 - Beabeboch mehal [በአበቦች መኻል] (4:54)
Hirut Bekele - 05 - Web new [ውብ ነው] (4:31)
Hirut Bekele - 06 - Mengizem Yantew negn [ምንጊዜም ያንተው ነኝ] (7:01)
Hirut Bekele - 07 - Yelewem Acha [የለውም እቻ] (5:21)
Hirut Bekele - 08 - EndeGebete Weha [አንደገበቴ ውሃ] (4:30)
Hirut Bekele - 09 - Tsebay Kewebet Gar [ጸባይ ከውበት ጋር] (5:52)
Dahlak Band - 10 - Instrumental (3:36)

Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Gigi [2001] [ethiopia]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

        Ejigayehu Shibabaw, known by her stage name Gigi, is one of the most successful contemporary Ethiopian singers worldwide. She has brought the music of Ethiopia to wider recognition and developed it in combination with a wide variety of other genres often in collaboration with her husband Bill Laswell, a bassist and producer.

       Gigi was born and raised in Chagni in northwestern Ethiopia. She has described learning traditional songs from an Ethiopian Orthodox priest in the family home. She lived in Kenya for a few years before moving to San Francisco in about 1998.

       Gigi recorded two albums for the expatriate Ethiopian community, but it was her 2001 album, titled simply Gigi, that brought her widespread attention. She had been noticed by Palm Pictures owner Chris Blackwell, who had years earlier introduced reggae to the mainstream through his former label, Island Records. Blackwell and Gigi's producer (and later, husband) Bill Laswell, decided to use American jazz musicians (including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, and others) to accompany Gigi on the album.

      The result was a fusion of contemporary and traditional sounds. The album was a critical success internationally and generated controversy in her home country for such a radical break with Ethiopian popular music. This release was soon followed by Illuminated Audio, an ambient dub style remix of the album by Laswell.

      2003 saw the release of Zion Roots, under the band name Abyssinia Infinite. Bill Laswell played guitar and keyboard (instead of his usual bass), and several of Gigi's family members contributed vocals. The album was a return to a mainly acoustic sound for Gigi, incorporating instruments such as the krar and the tabla. The track "Gole" is in Agaw, the language of Gigi's father's village.

    Gigi is married to her producer Bill Laswell, and they have a son, Aman, who has accompanied his parents with vocals. Her younger sister, singer Tigist Shibabaw, died under unknown circumstances in 2008.

Gigi - Gud Fella

Gigi - Vocals
Bill Laswell - Producer, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
Abonesh Adenew, Dawit Melesse, Hebest Tirunehe, Imani Uzuri, Mizanekristos Yohannes, Tigist Shibabaw - Backing Vocals
Thomas Gobena - Bass
Hamid Drake, Mikias Abebayehu - Drums, Percussion
Karsh Kale - Drums, Tabla, Keyboards
Mark Taylor - French Horn
David Gilmore, Nicky Skopelitis, Zakki Jewad - Guitar
Abegasu Shiota, Amina Claudine Myers, Dereje Mekonnen, Herbie Hancock - Keyboards
Abdou M'Boup, Aiyb Dieng, Melaku Gelaw, Setegne Satenaw - Percussion
Henry Threadgill, Pharoah Sanders, Wayne Shorter - Saxophone
Art Baron - Trombone- Accordion






01. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Gud Fella (5:35)
02. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Mengeoegna (5:33)
03. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Tew Ante Sew (4:20)
04. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Abay (5:18)
05. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Bale Washintu (5:35)
06. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Guramayle (4:27)
07. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Sew Argen (5:16)
08. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Aynama (5:05)
09. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Kahn (3:47)
10. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Zomaye (4:00)
11. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Abet Wubet (4:07)
12. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Nafeken (5:23)
13. Ejigayehu 'Gigi' Shibabaw - Adwa (5:02)

Ethio Cali - Live at The Blue Whale [2014] [usa+eth]

Ethio Cali is a Los Angeles-based Ethio-Jazz ensemble, led by trumpeter, arranger, and composer Todd Simon.  The ensemble’s sublime sound is inspired by the golden age of Ethiopian music of the 1960’s and 70’s, filtered through a lens that is uniquely Los Angeles.  Acknowledging the diverse musical foundations of Ethio-Jazz, the ensemble also draws inspiration from the rhythmic and melodic textures across Africa, Central/Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ethio Cali features:

Todd Simon – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Music Director

Randal Fisher – Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute

Mark de Clive-Lowe – Keys

Alan Lightner – Steel Pan

Damon Aaron – Guitar

Pat Bailey – Bass

Kahlil Cummings & Steve Haney – Percussion

Te’Amir Yohannes Sweeney – Drums

Tylana Renga – Violin

Ethiocali

            Ethio Cali – Live At The Blue Whale is an album composed of songs selected from various performances at The Blue Whale jazz venue located in the Little Tokyo neighborhood of Los Angeles. 

           The recordings on this cassette are lo-fi in nature. They were recorded on a portable Webcore tape recorder by our friend, supporter, and avid field recorder, Moises Garcia. During each of our shows Moises would set up his recorder in various locations and record each of our sets. Sometimes he would hang the microphone from the ceiling and other times he would tape it to a wall. All of this happened unbeknownst to the members of Ethio Cali. 

          Months later, we heard these recordings during a casual late night hang in Highland Park. We were all taken aback by what we heard. The hiss, hums, and wobbly quality of the recordings had a vintage and endearing appeal that we couldn’t deny. We decided to share these recordings in hopes that you’ll appreciate some of the special and candid moments we’ve shared together on stage during this past year. We thank you for taking the time to listen. 

Side A: 

1) Green Tej 
2) Ambasselita 
3) Mela Mela feat. Dereb The Ambassador 


Side B: 

1) A Mother's Love feat. MdCL 
2) Fitsum Dink Lij Nesh 
3) Ambassel (Fast)