Minyeshu - Dire Dawa [2008] [ethiopia]

       A train line winds from Djibouti to the Ethiopian capital Addis Abeba. On this track lies Dire Dawa, a city raised on both spirit and turmoil planted on a track that heads on to a higher plateau. Dire Dawa is the name of Minyeshu's birthplace.

       Minyeshu left home to join the Ethiopian National Theater in Addis at an early age. Her opinionated and resolute nature created conflict enough to force her from her homeland, and ultimately to the awaiting platforms of Europe. Minyeshu is a stunning performer. Her voice sings and her body dances the stories of centuries of tribal development and strife, the plight of the refugee, and the vibrations that resonate through every human soul.

       This CD is the registration of Minyeshu's arrival in Western Civilization. She roots herself seamlessly with western musical elements to create an enchanting new genre: this Ethiopian music has depth, dynamic and emotional nuance; this Western music has primal energy, exotic heritage and a natural ground shaking pulse. 

1. An Ode to Friends Who Have Passed On] Halafi Nen Kealem (Serra) [Life and Death

2. Wosenku [I Have Decided]

3. Selam Lehtsanat [Peace for the Children]

4. Tileshign Athidg

5. Dire Dawa [Home of My Earliest Memories]

6. Afrika [Africa I Must Tell You This]

7. Like-Neh [Love Renewed]

8. Buna

9. Sidama Manaho

10. Ker-Yihun (Gurage) [A Song for a Friend of Gurage Heritage]

11. Ayasresam - Tzita [Song of Longing for a Memory]

Personnel:

Jodie Kean, Izaline Calister, Lilian Vieira (vocals); 
Zoumana Diarra (guitar, kora); 
Edward Capel (clarinet, saxophone).

v.a. - The Harp of Apollo [Songs Accompanied by the Krar] [1989]

       A nice collection of both semi-ancient and relatively recent songs from Ethiopia, accompanied by the krar (a harp said to have been played by the Apollo, the Greek God) as well as the masanko, a single-stringed fiddle similar to the rebab. 

       The music is nice -- vocals work around one another, and the constant instrumental looping helps to move the song through itself. Being essentially the only area untouched by colonial powers in the scramble for Africa period, Ethiopia kept its traditions relatively pure and un-Westernized. 

           The influences that do show here though are mostly Egyptian, West Asian, and maybe North African. The only major thing lacking here would be more extensive liner notes - that is, more extensive English liner notes (the Japanese portion seems to be quite extensive). Other than that, it's a nice collection of Ethiopian forms. ~ Adam Greenberg

Recorded Mar. 18, 1989, JVC Aoyama Studio, Tokyo.

Getachew Abdi, kebero ; 

Kute Ojulu, kirar, tomm ; 

Elias Tebabal, vocals, masanko ; 

Konsso song (3:15) 

Gonder gjam (4:41) 

Shewa oromo song (4:07) 

Harrar oromo song (7:14) 

Shankila song (4:28)

Tomm (2:03) 

Tigringna song (3:57) 

Na gamme love song (3:13) 

Gurague song (3:20) 

An'chi jidg (4:03) 

Wollaita song (4:00) 

Keberro (2:35) 

Ethiopian classical melodies (7:31)

Roha Band - Tour 1990 [The Best of Roha Band]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

       When the Ibex Band disbanded in 1979, three of its members – Selam Seyoum, Giovanni Rico and Fekadu Amdemeskel – joined with Dawit Yifru, keyboard player for the also recently disbanded Dahlak Band, to form the now-legendary Roha Band. 

      Specializing in modern Ethiopian music with a traditional blend, the band’s first contract was with the Addis Ababa Hilton, where they performed together six days a week, perfecting their signature sound. The Roha Band traveled extensively, in Ethiopia and abroad, and performed on Ethiopian television. They made over 250 recordings with a multitude of celebrated Ethiopian singers, including Aster Aweke, Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed, Muluken Mellesse, Theodros Tadesse, Hamelmal Abate and Neway Debebe. Although the band broke up in 1994, with the members pursuing individual interests, no other Ethiopian group has matched the number or quality of their recordings.

         The Ibex band-of Ere Mela Mela fame-was renamed Roha band and along with Ethio Stars and Wallias Band,they became the leading bands of the time.

      Roha has produced over the years 250 recordings with all the stellar Ethiopian singers: Aster Aweke,Tilahun Gesesse, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete.

      Recorded during their first North American tour,this album introduced singers Neway Debebe,Hamelmal Abate,and Berhane Haile to the States and the large Ethiopian community there.

the Artists

Hamelmal Abate: vocals

Neway Debebe: vocals

Berhane Haile: vocals

Ashenafi Awel: drums

Giovanni Rico Bonsignori: bass

Yonas Degefie: saxophone

Selam Syoum: guitar

Yared Tefera: saxophone

Dawit Yifru: keyboards

v.a. - Ain't Life Strange? African music [mrc 050] [mostly Ethiopian]

A1 Tefera Kassa – Tijanko Hedetch
A2 Bahtag G. Hiwat – Tessassategn Eko
A3 Menelik Wèsnatchèw – Tezeta
A4 Francis Bebey – Pilgrimage To Tanglewood
A5 Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes – Ebibi
A6 Assegedetch Kassa – Marewa
A7 Etoile International De Dakar* – Dom Sou Nase Bakh

B1 Belaynesh Wabante* – Ereyedemanu
B2 Amha Eshete – Belew Bedubaye
B3 Ayela Momma – Min Bedelkut Minew
B4 Imperial Body Guard Band – Fakir Aygebatchew
B5 Assegedetch Kassa – Sewe
B6 Mulatu Astatke – Emete
B7 Irewolde Denge* - Orin Asape Eko

Dub Colossus - remixes

     R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D    

Dub Colossus - Black Rose (Side stepper remix)

01. Dub Colossus - Wehgene [Almamegretta Mix] (4:57)

02. Dub Colossus - Tringo [Bimbamatic Mix] (4:45)

03. Dub Colossus - Yezema Meseret [Madame Diop Mix] (3:56)

04. Dub Colossus - Wey Fikir [Janaka Selekta Mix] (4:59)

05. Dub Colossus - Medina [Eccodek Mix] (6:00)

06. Dub Colossus - Selemi Pt 2 [Nick Van Gelder Mix] (3:23)

07. Dub Colossus - Wey Fikir [David Chazam Mix] (4:54)

08. Dub Colossus - Azmari Dub (Mista Savona Remix) (4:14)

09. Dub Colossus - Ekcentricity [Sumo Skank mix] (7:55)

10. Dub Colossus - Shegye shegitu [Blue Nile remix) (3:56)

11. Dub Colossus - Neh Yelginete (My First Love) (5:40)

12. Dub Colossus - Sima Edy (Plastic People Dub Re-Edit] (5:38)

Menelik Wossenachew - mixtape [ethiopia]

Enjoy a mix of 10 of Menelik’s songs in 15 minutes.

01.Wub Nat, 

02.Yachi Lij Qonjo Nat, 

03.Aderech Arada, 

04.Chereqa, 

5.Meqaberen Liyew, 

06.Tebeb Teqami New, 

07.Fiqrachin, 

08.Mambo Sambo,

09.Bati, 

10.Tizita  

Wub Nat:  Written and arranged by Girma Beyene when Menelik was a member of the second Ras Band

Yachi Lij Qonjo Nat: Backed by Haile Selassie Theatre Orchestra–arranged by Nerses Nalbandian

Aderech Arada:  Lyrics by Getachew Debalke arranged by Nerses Nalbandian; backed by Haile Selassie I Theatre Orchestra

Chereqa:  A children’s song-arranged by Girma Beyene backed by All Star Band

Meqaberen Liyew:  Lyrics and music by Menelik Wossenachew arranged by Girma Beyene backed by the All Star Band

Tebeb Teqami New:   arranged by Nerses Nalbandian backed by Haile Selassie Theatre Orchestra

Fiqrachin: Lyrics  by Menelik Wossenachew: music and arrangement  by Mulatu Astatke; backed by the All Star Band

Mambo Sambo:   Lyrics by Menelik Wossenachew; music and arrangement  by Mulatu Astatke; backed by All Star Band

Bati:    Lyrics traditional and Menelik Wossenachew; arranged by Girma Beyene; backed by Marathon Band

Tizita:   Lyrics traditional and Menelik Wossenachew; arranged by Mulatu Astatke