Setegn Atanaw - Gonder [1997]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

       The masinko is a violin-like instrument widely used in Ethiopia where it is played by secular poet-musicians rather like the troubadours of medieval Europe. These professional musicians play at festivals, family celebrations such as weddings, and in bars. Some are beggars who play in the street for alms.

       The masinko is made out of wood with a sound box covered by an animal skin. The single string is made out of braided horse hair. Some ethnomusicologists think the masinko is related to a similar Muslim instrument called the rebabah. Both instruments are stringed and are played with a bow

     Over the years, Setegn Atanaw has become known as one of the best Masinko players in Ethiopia. 

      Although Gonder is Setegn's first solo album, he has performed on many other artists' recordings while in Ethiopia, most notably the renowned Ethiopian arranger Mulatu Astatke. Setegn has also written compositions for many Ethiopian artists. While in Ethiopia, Setegn was selected to represent Ethiopia in an international cultural concert tour, bringing the music of his homeland to such countries as Korea, Japan, Italy, Russia, Canada and the United States.

       Setegn Atanaw started his professional career in 1995 with the Gish Abaye musical group in Bahir Dar, Gojam (a northern Ethiopian province). In 1990, he moved to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, and joined the National Theater Cultural Center.Over the years Setegn has become known as one of the best Masinko players in Ethiopia. 

       In 1993, Setegn Atanaw emigrated to the United States and joined the well-known traditional group the Nile Ethiopian Ensemble in Washington, D.C. With this exciting musical group, he has performed in places like the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Lincoln Center, Harvard University and many more!

Bahru Kegne - The Best Of [2000]

        Bahru Kegne (1929-2000) was a legendary azmari, who was even a private court-player under Haile Selassie, then the ‘free newspaper’ in the communist days and recording some amazing ‘modern’ cassettes in the last years of his life. 

He sings and played masinko, traditional ethiopian instrument.

Deep, hypnotic, trance-like music, and unlike things published before.

1. Bahru Kegne - Ashebel Gedaye (4:58)

2. Bahru Kegne - Derbabaye (7:10)

3. Bahru Kegne - Mela Mela (6:39)

4. Bahru Kegne - Yaz Ejwan (7:40)

5. Bahru Kegne - Bati (5:41)

6. Bahru Kegne - Yehuna (7:51)

7. Bahru Kegne - Kalu (8:01)

8. Bahru Kegne - Ambasel (5:59)

9. Bahru Kegne - Shelela (4:55)

Dawit Senbetta - Instrumental music

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

                                                              Dawit Senbetta - Bati

01. Dawit Senbetta - Aqim (4:36)

02. Dawit Senbetta - Qumetish (4:59)

03. Dawit Senbetta - Gubiliye (7:27)

04. Dawit Senbetta - Hode (7:27)

05. Dawit Senbetta - Ketifat Aldinim (4:33)

06. Dawit Senbetta - Arada (6:20)

07. Dawit Senbetta - Enkuan Qome (5:29)

08. Dawit Senbetta - Yefikir Wetmed New (5:20)

09. Dawit Senbetta - Instrumental (5:00)

10. Dawit Senbetta - Na Lideribilih (5:53)

Abiyou Solomon - In Search of My Roots [2008]

               R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D   

       Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Abiyou Solomon began his love affair with the guitar when he watched his older brother tinker with the instrument around the house. At age 14, his brother bought him his first acoustic guitar and, soon after, he started playing at St. Francesco Theology College. While in high school he joined the Medhane Alem school band and, in his senior year, he played with the Alazarist Mission school band.

        It was Genene Nebebe who recruited Abiyou to join the Genet Hotel Band. He next joined the Zambezi Club band and after a short period with them, he joined the Hotel D’Afrique band, led by Genene. He later joined the second incarnation of the Dahlak Band. In 1982, he joined the Hager Fikir Theatre Band and it was then that he first fell truly in love with the varied cultural music of Ethiopia. Also during this period, Abiyou had the pleasure to play with Abebe Kassa (alto saxophone) and Negusse Assefa (tenor saxophone). He would be reunited with Negusse when they formed the Abyssinia Band.

        During his stint at the Hager Fikir Theatre, famed Ethiopian producer and arranger, Abegasu Shiota, persuaded Abiyou to switch to the bass guitar and he was soon asked to join the Ethio Stars band as a bass player, a post he eventually left to become a studio musician/arranger. In this role, he was involved in the production of 150+ recordings, working with a multitude of famous traditional and contemporary musicians, including Bahru Kegne, Yirga Dubale, Assnaketch Werku, Lemma Gebrehiwot, Abebe Tessema, Theodros Tadesse, Tsegaye Eshetu, Teshome Assegid, Kuku Sebsibe, Wubshet Fisseha, Martha Ashagari, Setegn Atanaw and many more.

        In 1991, Abiyou joined the Abyssinia Band as a bassist. Their first gig was on the 1991 Ethiopian New Year. The following year, the band recorded five tracks for a Swedish compilation CD, Music from Ethiopia. The CD’s success in Sweden led to a tour of country, along with a performance at Etnosoi in Finland. Abiyou Solomon and The Abyssinia Band were also featured in the book, Rough Guide to World Music Volume One: Africa, Europe & the Middle East.

        After the Abyssinia Band disbanded, Abiyou returned to being a session bassist until he moved to the United States in 1995, when he became a sought-after tour bassist. In that capacity, he has backed Mahmoud Ahmed, Aster Aweke, Theodros Tadesse, Hamelmal Abate, Tsehaye Yohannes, Neway Debebe and countless others. Apart from this album, Abiyou has released an Ethiopian Instrumental CD titled Abiy, and he produced and arranged Maritu Legesse’s Yebati Nigest. Currently, Abiyou resides in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and is reforming the Abyssinia band.

        Abiyou Solomon’s new CD, “In Search of my Roots” showcases Ethiopian/world music and shows how this music has carried into the 21st century while retaining it’s traditional roots.

           Many instruments can be heard on this CD, along with Ethiopian singing and vocal styles. Abiyou Solomon was born in Addis Ababa. He began getting interested in the guitar by watching his older brother play around the house.  His brother later bought him his first acoustic,which he started playing at St. Francesco Theology College. He later joined the Genet Hotel band.

        In 1982, he joined the Hager Fikir Theatre Band. During his stint there,famous Ethiopian producer Abegasu Shiota convinced him to switch to electric bass guitar. He became an in-demand session bassist in America after this decision.

         “Erikum Wello” has a repetitive quality that is hypnotizing.The vocals and the sound effects used are very different. The instruments used on this track are what the listener focuses on. You can hear drums and traditional sounds,along with horns. 

         “Hasa Konso” has an early ‘70s funk sound. The tone of the electric bass really sticks out on this track.There is an auto-wah effect that is being used on the synth that is cool. Basically,there are many great sound effects used throughout this album with great musicianship.

         “Ethiopia 2000” is another funky track. Musicians should listen to CDs such as this to get ideas for creating original music. All the music here is original -- great horns, solid bass tones,and tons of traditional instruments.

        Overall, Abiyou Solomon’s “ In search of my roots” retains the true sounds of traditional Ethiopian and world music with wonderful musicianship.

Elias Negash - Harrambe [Lets Pull Together] [2001]

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01. Elias Negash - Lost Love (5:26)
02. Elias Negash - Ououta (5:37)
03. Elias Negash - Silky Spider (6:26)
04. Elias Negash - Ethiopian Nights II (4:33)
05. Elias Negash - She's My Soul (7:05)
06. Elias Negash - Jambo (Hello) (3:53)
07. Elias Negash - Kemdelaye (My Way) (6:13)
08. Elias Negash - Separation (5:14)
09. Elias Negash - Almaz (My Precious Diamond) (4:29)
10. Elias Negash - Malaika (My Angel) (6:24)
11. Elias Negash - Memories (8:11)
12. Elias Negash - Harrambe (Let's Pull Together) (5:24)
13. Elias Negash - Ethiopian Nights II (Instrumental) (4:52)

Girma Yifrashewa - The Shepherd with the Flute [2001]

   

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

     Born in Addis Ababa on 15 October 1967, Girma Yefrashewa learnt to play the Kirar, a harp-like traditional Ethiopian string instrument, at a tender age. He was introduced to piano at the age of 16 when he joined the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa , where he studied for four years and graduated with a diploma in piano under Valentina Semenova. He then received a five-year bursary from the Ethiopian government to study at the Sofia State Conservatory of Music, in Bulgaria and graduated with a Masters in Piano under Professor Atanas Kurtev.

        It is in Bulgaria that he made an impact as a solo pianist holding shows throughout the country until his return to East Africa in 1995.

          His best achievement as a performer is in the sphere of romantic and impressionist repertoires, above all the piano works of Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and Debussy. He has a preference and well-determined approach to the music of Bach as well as to those of Mozart and Beethoven.

       Girma was privileged to have received scholarships for short-term specialization courses from the British and German Governments, at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1997) under Professor Frank Wibaut and at the Hochschule fur Music Und Theater – Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy – in Leipzig (1999) under Professor Helgeheide Schimdt , respectively.

       With regard to his work experience, on his return to Ethiopia in 1995, he took up a position with the Yared School of Music as a piano teacher where he worked until 2001. He was also working at the Sheraton Addis as a Pianist for one year (2000-2001). Now Girma is involved in his private work to promote Ethiopian and Classical Music throughout the continent and beyond. On his spare time, he also gives private piano lessons to students of different age groups.

       Girma has so far released three albums: The Shepherd with the Flute (2001), Meleya Keleme (2003) and Elilta (2005).

       Girma has many compositions (among which is the famed Shepherd with the Flute, based on the composition of Professor Ashenafi Kebede’s music) and has extensively worked on music arrangement. His latest album “Elilta” features exclusively his own compositions and arrangements and the pieces are all based on Ethiopian traditional tunes.

       In 2005, on the occasion of the celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of the commencement of Ethio-German diplomatic relations, Girma was given the unique opportunity to perform with the German Leipzig Youth Symphony Orchestra. The concert of German music (Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 2) and Ethiopian music (Girma’s own compositions) was highly acclaimed both in German (Leipzig and Berlin) and Addis Ababa.

       Girma has held many concerts both in Ethiopia and outside not only on his international tours (solo tour and with Ethiopian vocalists), but also on separate invitations sent to him (Egypt, Djibouti, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, Seychelles, Zambia, Malawi, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, USA).

        In October 2009, Girma was invited for the International Symposium and Festival in The USA under the title of “Africa Meets North America “In the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

                               The Shepherd with the Flute

      The 2001 CD, The Shepherd with the Flute, includes works of Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Mozart and Schumann, as well as a new work by the pianist himself. It is called The Shepherd Flutist (7:14) and is based on The Shepherd with the Flute, a composition of Ashenafi Kebede, an Ethiopian composer. 

01. Girma Yifrashewa - Für Elise (2:51)

02. Girma Yifrashewa - Fantasie-Impromptu Op.66 (5:19)
03. Girma Yifrashewa - The shepherd with the flute (7:14)
04. Girma Yifrashewa - Gymnopedie (3:57)
05. Girma Yifrashewa - Nocturen Op. 54 No 4 (3:51)
06. Girma Yifrashewa - Papillons Op.2 (15:43)
07. Girma Yifrashewa - Rondo alla Turca (3:30)
08. Girma Yifrashewa - Prelude No 2 (4:11)
09. Girma Yifrashewa - Clair de lune (4:51)
10. Girma Yifrashewa - Valse in A minor Op.34, No 2 (4:52)
11. Girma Yifrashewa - Arabesque Op.18 (6:26)