Henock TemesgenandAbegasu ShiotaformedADMAS(which means "HORIZON" in Amharic) in Washington, DC in 1984. ADMAS, initially a backup band, went on to compose, arrange and produce music for most Ethiopian Artists working in the U.S., Europe and Ethiopia. They believe their music is reflective of today's world, where globalization is defying geographic boundaries.
ADMASband members, Henock and Abegasu, are graduates of the distinguished Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ma. Upon graduation, they moved to Manhattan, NY becoming active in the local Jazz and African music scene. ADMAS toured the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Canada with Ethiopian artists, and played at different festivals, including, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Summer Stage at Central Park, Hollywood Bowl, to name a few.
In 1997, they were joined by Zakki Jawad a longtime friend and fellow musician. Zakki, an accomplished musician in Reggae and World Music circles, has been actively performing in the U.S and abroad for the past 16 years. He has recorded and performed with several Reggae and African musicians, such as the ITALS from Jamaica. Between them they have extensive live and recording experience.
ADMAS’latest and sophomore effort, produced by the legendry studio icon Bill Laswell, reflects their continual work in fusing African/Ethiopian ideas with other world music elements.
This album also features prominent musicians such as Omar Hakim (drums - previously with Sting and Madonna),Karsh Kale(Drums and Tabla),Lili Haydn(Violin – Seal, Plant/Page),Peter Apfelbaum (Saxophone – Don Cherry,HieroglyphicsEnsemble),Art Baron (Trombone – Duke Ellington), Graham Haynes (Trumpet and Flugel-horn, - Steve Coleman, Gigi),Gigi(vocals - signed by Chris Blackwell to Palm Pictures recently topped the World Music charts in US and Europe), and Abdou Mboup(Percussions - Angelique Kidjo, Jean-Luc Ponty) to name a few.
The emergence of ADMAS as an original band comes on the heel of the establishment of their own independent label and Production Company, C-Side Entertainment, LLC. ADMAS’ fusion of Ethiopian and other World Music elements is the basis for their unique sound, which they hope to bring to worldwide audience. They believe their music is reflective of today’s world, where globalization is defying geographic boundaries.
Most people are familiar with the Ethiopian music of the ‘golden seventies’. The great CD-series of ‘Ethiopiques’ focuses on this remarkable period of truly amazing and rich music. The era of the big brass bands came to an end in the period of the ‘Derg’, the military government in Ethiopia from 1975 till 1991. After that, the scene seemed confused.
Many great musicians were forced into exile or passed away. The horns mostly disappeared and were replaced by cheap keyboards everywhere. Awful bombastic overproduced ‘plastic’ pop productions flooded the market. Synthesisers, vocoders, drummachines and hasty productions that all sound alike.
But in the last few years something new is emerging. Young producers have started combining traditional rhythms and strong dance beat production. The result is very original, uplifting and very danceable music. The gurage, wollo, gondar, oromo and other traditional rhythms work wonders for this new dance music. And the Ethiopian youth loves it. It can be heard not only in the hip areas like Bole, but all over Addis and other Ethiopian urban areas. Blasting from restaurants, taxi’s, coffeeplaces, grocerystores and Addis’ giant market, the Mercato.
The ‘Ililta’ CD is a compilation of this new Ethiopian dance music, recorded with a new generation of singers over the last decade. A cross-selection of the production work of Mesele Asmamaw and some of his close colleges.
Tlahoun Gésséssé is widely regarded as the "Voice" of Ethiopia. Born in 1940, his singing and recording career began in the 1950's until his recent death earlier in 2009. As many followers of the Ethiopiques series will know, the incredible 17th installment is dedicated to Tlahoun, largely featuring arrangements by Mulatu Astatke and a selection of the country's finest ensembles. This record is essentially another "Best Of..", featuring a selection of tracks taken from the 60's & 70's golden period of Ethiopian music, when Tlahoun's tenor was recognised as the best around, playing to Haile Selassie I on numerous occasions.
It's standard practice in any country for the most celebrated singers to receive backing from the best players they can offer and Tlahoun worked with the top musicians in Ethiopia. His powerful vocals are well matched by blazing funk, heartfelt soul and superb Ethiopian rhythms, that still sound as fiery and impassioned today as we can only imagine they did back then. The hot and hazy swing of 'Kulun Mankwalesh' or the steaming funk of 'Aykedashem Lebé' show Tlahoun's diversity and range perfectly and are worth the price of admission alone. If you dig any of the Ethiopiques series or Sublime Frequencies Group Doueh this is an absolute must.
Ali Birra (born September 29, 1947) is a famous Oromo singer, composer, poet and nationalist. He was born in Ganda Kore village in the city of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Ali Birra - [1992] - Sin Afán
Ali Birra - [1998] - Hin Yaadin
Ali Birra - [2005] - Jaalala Biyyaa
Ali Birra - [2005] - Remix
Ali Birra - [2009] - Falmi Mirga Keetiif & Barnoota
