Discover the man: his name is William Bayakimissa.
Driven by his relatives, he finally launches in a daring project. William presents the first part of Ethiobeats: substantive work, drawing on Ethiopian jazz samples (Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astake and other masters of the genre!).
Marvelous product from shoestring: iPod Touch first generation's hearts (It takes you to invest my guys if you read this). Although the project is still only a demo, it has strong arguments to make. The first track, fresh and rhythmic, introduced the album perfectly. It is composed by a dozen beats full of groove. By exploiting this rich resource of Ethiopian music, and successfully William offers us a varied program very attractive. The tracks keep coming one after the other and are not alike. In short, everything that we love.
Ethiobeats is available at free prices. Do not hesitate to encourage, financially or verbally, the boy to buy some equipment. I think the iPod has been amortized by now.
Abraham Afewerki is described as an Eritrean musical tour-de-force.
Held in high regard by his fellow Eritrean artists, his work garners appreciation and admiration from his peers. His musical influence also crosses borders to Eritrea’s neighboring countries where his music is reproduced by other musicians singing in a different language other than his native Tigrinya.
Abraham was born in Asmara, Eritrea. From an early age Abraham was fascinated with musical instruments and by age nine had learned to play a musical instrument independently.
Due to the Eritrean War of Independence, Abraham, with his family, fled to Sudan and soon after to Italy, where he further pursued his dream to be a professional musician. While studying in Rome, Abraham continued to expand his musical skills by working with internationally known musical celebrities in live performances as well as recordings.
Abraham’s first CD, Kozli Gaba was released in 1991, which was produced and distributed by Virgin Records in Europe. The album was the first by an Eritrean artist that was produced by an International recording company and made available to the global audience. Abraham’s music, in due course, was covered by a number of International media outlets.
During the following 15 years Abraham released two more albums which further propelled his popularity among Eritreans. His songs were popular because his lyrics expressed strong and poetic images of Eritrea’s culture. His socially conscious words were evocative and his fans often described his music as inspiring. Abraham is also credited with being one of Eritrea’s master live entertainers.
01. Abraham Afewerki - Nay Mebtsaa Desiet (4:50)
02. Abraham Afewerki - Shikor (7:04)
03. Abraham Afewerki - Deki Errey (8:04)
04. Abraham Afewerki - Aygodelen (5:53)
05. Abraham Afewerki - Abella (6:49)
06. Abraham Afewerki - Hadera (5:23)
07. Abraham Afewerki - Ne'i (5:48)
08. Abraham Afewerki - Fekrey (6:38)
09. Abraham Afewerki - Fekriyu Menghedey (5:50)
10. Abraham Afewerki - Zeamna Haymanot (6:04)
11. Abraham Afewerki - Mistre Fekri (5:32)
12. Abraham Afewerki - Errena (5:40)
13. Abraham Afewerki - Hisebilu (6:54)
In his newest CD titled Semai ("Sky" in Tigrinya), Abraham collaborates with several Eritrean musicians, the result of which was an exquisite sound. Abraham continued to blend his music with jazz, R&B, and Reggae rhythms at the same time maintaining his music’s originality and authenticity.
In 2006, Afewerki drowned while swimming in Massawa during the filming of his next music video.
Regular followers have probably noticed that the usual Christmas present is late this year, but it does not mean that it will not arrive.
And here it is !
It is only fitting that we end the year with a short overview.This time, it is a compilation of the recent work of the bands whose music is influenced by the Ethiopian sound.
I am not going to bore you a lot. You have come to know most of the authors form this compilation through the posts on my blog, but there is something completely new as well. You will find out for yourself what it is.
I wish you lots of health, happiness and love in the new year. And lots of interesting music, of course.
B.
cd
1
01 - Nadav Haber - Nanu Nanu Jazz (6:13)
02 - Elias Negash - My Eyes Are Hungry (6:55)
03 - New Constellations - Rift Valley (4:51)
04 - Ethioda - Araray (5:09)
05 - Akalé Wubé - Kidus à cent dix (5:17)
06 - Akalé Wubé - Gab's Trap (4:00)
07 - Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Che Belew
(4:02)
08 - Arat Kilo - Ankober Hotel (3:42)
09 - Les Frères Smith - Yègellé Tezeta (My Own
Memory) (4:58)
cd
2
01 - KAZANCHIS +1 - Bilemo Bilee (6:00)
02 - KAZANCHIS +1 - Agerwa Wasa Magana (5:36)
03 - KAZANCHIS +1 - Astawusalehu (5:34)
04 - Feedel Band - Girl from Ethiopia (7:35)
05 - Feedel Band - Arayas Mood (8:24)
06 - Black Flower - Upwards (4:58)
07 - The Shaolin Afronauts - Abyssinian Suite,
Pt. 1 (5:28)
08 - The Shaolin Afronauts - Abyssinian Suite,
Pt. 2 (5:07)
09 - The Shaolin Afronauts - Abyssinian Suite,
Pt. 3 (3:44)
After two albums and a short but well-documented history, Imperial Tiger Orchestra (aka the Tigers) strikes back with a mighty new album, “Wax”, comprising nine killer tracks of tight funk and free-spirited trance wrapped in luscious arrangements. Still inspired by African masters – but not necessarily those you might have thought of – The Tigers have this time delved into the traditional azmari repertoire to uncover astonishing nuggets of synth- and horn-heavy grooviness. Get ready for a journey into the heart of Ethiopia.
When Imperial Tiger Orchestra first started unravelling the yarn of Ethiopian Music from the Golden Age (1969 – 1975), no one expected the thread to be so long and no one knew where it might end.
Inspired by original albums that the band found while shopping for rare musical gems on a first visit to Addis Ababa in 2009, Imperial Tiger Orchestra released a first record in 2010, the aptly-named Addis Abeba, which explored
Ethiopian music from the 70s – when traditional Ethiopian brass bands began feeding off American soul. The second release, Mercato, veered towards a more pop-inspired repertoire from the 80s, and the latest release goes one step further, taking the listener deeper into Ethiopian culture, from the unique sounds of the azmari repertoire to the hypnotic groove of the major tribes.
After three years touring Europe, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has acquired a solid reputation as a mighty groove machine. The band has also taken its acid riffs to the African continent, touring South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe back in 2010. Having been invited to Addis Ababa by the renowned producer of the Ethiopiques series, Francis Falceto, the Tigers were proud to meet many of the local musicians who work to reshape traditional Ethiopian music. Based in and around Geneva, Switzerland, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has also worked with musicians and dancers from the Ethiopian diaspora, receiving their rewarding approval and blessing for their own original take on Ethiopian music.
Wax: 80s synths meet traditional kebero percussions and daring rhythms. Gorgeous horn arrangements enwrap powerful bass lines and saturated electronic beats. All of this in a room where the sun pierces through the walls, where spirits dance and bodies are entranced.
Samson Kidane, singer and songwriter from Eritrea, live in Cologne, Germany and writes his songs on the krar, the national musical Instrument of Eritrea. This plucked instrument is similar to the ancient lyre European and West African kora harp.
This rare instrument is played today only in the zones adjacent to the Nile countries of Africa, and the Arabian peninsula.
With his music Samson Kidane miraculously combine his African roots with modern music styles such as hip-hop, reggae and rock. But still you can hear his songs with East African and Arabic influences.
Samson Kidane is as cosmopolitan who is looking for the unifying between cultures. He sings in Tigrinya, the outsider a melodious, musical language. The lyrics of his songs are influenced by his early life in a war-torn Eritrea, and deal critically with the situation of his homeland.
They also tell of depth and passion, love and religion. His band plays in a classic line: with guitar, bass, drums and percussion support the four musicians discreet and reserved the own music style.
01 - Samson Kidane Band - Celdi (3:24)
02 - Samson Kidane Band - Fithi (3:22)
03 - Samson Kidane Band - Mesiluni ich dachte (2:56)
To most of his adoring fans that got close to knowing him by first name, he was just simply known to them as "DJ" and more importantly to his own family and ours, we called him Dereje. The 5th one down from a family of eleven (also his favorite chord progression...) and in my humble opinion: the most gifted keyboard player there is among Ethiopian Musicians.
Go ahead and ask any well-established musician in the Ethiopian Music circuit... they all know him as just simply "DJ". His composition style and rhythm arrangement has mentored many of the up-and-coming musicians in our own communities.
Dereje "DJ" Makonnen was not one to drop names nor pre-occupy his time and energy with whom he has worked with and/or help bring them to stardom, he wanted to play music since he can actually see the blueprint of what the song should be each time the singer/artist bring the lyrics and the "Zema" (pronounced Zay_MAH: a word in amharic which means melody).
The lyrics of a song always send the message across to the listening audience but it is the song that carry the tune into everybody's ear and make them remember it each time they hear the first few bars of the song. After few years of tenure with the Dallol Band in Chicago, IL whom during the last heydays of the band they were touring with Ziggy & the Melody Makers on both Conscious Party (1988) and One Bright Day (1989) albums. It was right after the tour that DJ along with Ruphael, Bryan "Rocket", Asrat and Kahali Makonnen who was later replaced by Clem Julien formed Gizzae in 1991. Gizzae soon became a fan favorite in the Chicago and Midwest reggae scene. Every Sunday night, if you were a reggae music lover, you were at the Wild Hare waiting for Gizzae to take the stage.
Dereje Makonnen was one of the key element in revolutionizing modern Ethiopian Music (meaning using non-traditional musical instruments) He was always playing the guitar [his favorite instrument] the keys and also the bass at the forefront of trying new sounds and arrangement styles that no one was attempting. Many of the current Ethiopian musicians refer to him as a mentor.
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.
01 - Nadav Haber - Summer Song (4:37)
02 - Nadav Haber - Ambassel (5:45)
03 - Nadav Haber - Blue Morning (4:26)
04 - Nadav Haber - Morning Coffee (4:45)
05 - Nadav Haber - Goodbye Romance (4:39)
06 - Nadav Haber - In a Spanish Mood (Malaguena) (5:09)
A quite sad, but funny story for many people down here is from when Kweysha Seta was offered a contract for this album.
Being illiterate it was said he was fooled to sign it, not understanding that he would only earn 500birr (about 100 usd in 1991, rough guessing) for it. It became a big hit, maybe even bigger than expected, and the cover was reprinted several times. Now it’s out of reach in most shops in Addis, and they are saying they stoped getting access to it.
The distributor Ethio Music Shop, with the boss named Asrat has been closed with his cassette business for maybe three years now, making money on electronics instead. This shop was a great distributor of traditional music in the 80s and 90s, I really wish that some of his releases will be made accessible again, including this amazing cassette-album of Kweysha Seta.
