Mulatu Astatke - Mochilla presents timeless Mulatu Astatke [2010] [ethiopia]

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Mulatu Astatke - Timeless (Live)

       Ethiopian composer/arranger/vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke reached a lot of Western ears in the ‘90s when the fourth installment of the Ethiopiques series featured his work. That album presented innovative recordings from the ‘60s and ‘70s that fused jazz and Ethiopian sounds. Astatke got more exposure when some of his pieces were used in the soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers. 

       

       In 2009, Astatke and a fine group of American musicians performed at California State University, Los Angeles, and Timeless captures the concert. Featured players include woodwinds wizard Benny Maupin, former McCoy Tyner sideman Azar Lawrence on tenor sax, and trombonist and Tribe veteran Phil Ranelin. A number of younger players also make contributions, including keyboardist Brandon Coleman, violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and trumpeter Todd Simon, who displays a nice feel for Ethiopian scales. 

     Astatke’s vibraphone solos are always welcome, and if you had to pick a standout track it would be “Mulatu,” where the band finds a deep groove.

1. Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo Sèw (7:32)

2. Mulatu Astatke - The Radcliffe (8:29)

3. Mulatu Astatke - I Faram Gami (7:45)

4. Mulatu Astatke - Yèkatit (7:15)

5. Mulatu Astatke - Kasaléfkut Hulu (8:05)

6. Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu (7:10)

7. Mulatu Astatke - Munayé (7:47)

8. Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta (5:24)

9. Mulatu Astatke - Ebo Lala (6:31)

Bass Clarinet, Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Bennie Maupin

Drums – Tony Austin

Drums [Hand], Percussion – Munyungo Jackson

Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Trevor Ware

Electric Guitar – Dan Ubick

Electric Piano, Piano, Organ – Brandon Coleman

Percussion – Alan Lightner

Tenor Saxophone – Azar Lawrence

Trombone – Joel Yennior, Phil Ranelin

Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Todd Simon

Viola – Miguel Atwood-Ferguson

Vibraphone, Percussion – Mulatu Astatke

v.a. - Ethio podcast - Begena [2006] [ethiopia]

Alemu Aga - "Besmeab - Abatachin Hoy"

playing the Begenna, the Harp of David from Ethiopia

       The begena (or bèguèna, as in French) is an Eritrean and Ethiopian string instrument with ten strings belonging to the family of the lyre. According to oral tradition, Menelik I brought the instrument to the region from Israel, where David played on it to soothe King Saul's nerves and heal him of insomnia. Its actual origin remains in doubt, though local manuscripts depict the instrument at the beginning of the 15th century (Kimberlin 1978: 13).

      Known as the instrument of noblemen, monks and the upper class and performed by both men and women, the begena was used primarily as an accompaniment during meditation and prayer. Though commonly played in the home, it is sometimes played in the framework of festive occasions. During Lent, the instrument is often heard on the radio and around churches. 

   Begena is accompanied by singing voice only. The singer may compose his or her own texts or they may be taken from the Bible, from the Book of Proverbs, or from the Book of Qine, an anthology of proverbs and love poems. Subject matter includes the futility of life, the inevitability of death, saints, mores, morality, prayer, and praises to God. The song's duration varies according to the text, the audience, and the persistence of the player. Though many texts are of a religious nature, the instrument is not used in the Ethiopian Orthodox church services, even if it is seen occasionally in religious processions outside the church.

     Because of the instrument's relatively intimate and sacred role in society, the begena is not very common to find. Meditation and prayer are very private, personal endeavors, and hearsay suggests that the instrument is played by very few and is a dying art. However, in 1972, the Yared Music School in Addis Ababa began formal instruction in the begena. Since 2004, evening courses are organized and the begena is still played.

    The begena has ten strings. However, different musicians use varying numbers of strings to play the begena. For example, begena teacher Memhr Sisay Demissae uses all ten strings to play the begena, while other players may use five or six of the strings. The left hand is used to pluck the strings.

 When all ten strings are plucked, one method of tuning the begena is to tune each pair of strings to one of the pitches in a pentatonic scale. When using five of the stings, only the first, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth strings are tuned and plucked to give sound. Finally, while playing the begena using six strings, the left hand plucks strings one, three, four, six, eight, and ten (starting from the left side when facing the instrument). The pointing finger plucks strings three and four while the other fingers are in charge of controlling one string each. The remaining strings are used for the finger rests or stops after the strings have been plucked, allowing the plucked string to vibrate.

          The begena may also be played using a system called girf, wherein a plectrum made of horn or wood is used to pluck the ten strings of the begena. Megabe Sebhat Alemu Aga plays begena both by using his fingertips and girf.

       

      

The begena is characterized by a very specific buzzing sound, due to U-shaped leather pieces placed between each string and the bridge. The thong for each string is adjusted up or down along the bridge so that the string, when plucked, repeatedly vibrates against the edge of the bridge.

01 - unknown - Begena 9 (5:17)
02 - Zerfu Demisie - Tewoledelin (5:23)
03 - Merigeta Fikru Sahelu - Simih Yemesgen (7:34)
04 - Akalu - Bene Tsidk Aydelem (7:11)
05 - Yilma Hailu - Silasie Kesemay (4:14)
06 - Tadiwos Girma - Temesgen (6:05)
07 - Yilam Hailu - Eninesalen (3:55)
08 - Mirtnesh Tilahun - Rehoboth (5:11)
09 - Engidawork Bekele - Alefkugne Dingil (6:00)
10 - Fekadu Amare - Egziabher Hayal New (5:20)

Aron Abraham - Amani'do Yetselem [2002] [eritrea]

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Aron Abraham - Asmara Shikor

       Aron Abraham is an Eritrean Tigrigna singer, who is known for his song "Asmara Shikor" and others.

01. Aron Abraham - Ayresaekuken (5:07)

02. Aron Abraham - Asmara Shikor (6:27)

03. Aron Abraham - Amani'do Yetselem (5:03)

04. Aron Abraham - Aydelen Edmeki (5:20)

05. Aron Abraham - Imuney (5:36)

06. Aron Abraham - Sieliki Ayamenin (3:54)

07. Aron Abraham - Abti Waziemaki (6:32)

08. Aron Abraham - Tshftoy (6:17)

09. Aron Abraham - Yemelales (5:54)

10. Aron Abraham - Jaguar (5:46)

11. Aron Abraham - Liela (5:28)

12. Aron Abraham - Instrumental (0:52)

Sami Berhane - W'lad [2005] [eritrea]

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01. Sami Berhane - Kuluye Zemale (6:52)
02. Sami Berhane - Aytsaweronye Ane (6:38)
03. Sami Berhane - Wulad (8:11)
04. Sami Berhane - Flyeti Btebay (7:14)
05. Sami Berhane - Ayney Blen (7:06)
06. Sami Berhane - Btaemiye Zfetweki (7:10)
07. Sami Berhane - Umrel Senin (8:19)
08. Sami Berhane - Abay Seb (8:07)
09. Sami Berhane - Gamey (7:27)
10. Sami Berhane - Ruhus Gama (7:03)

Mystraw - Ethiobeats / part 1 DEMO [2014] [ethiopia+france]

originally posted here > __________

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.

01. Ethiobeat 01 - 02:05

02. Ethiobeat 02 - 01:57

03. Ethiobeat 03 - 02:58

04. Ethiobeat 04 - 01:47

05. Ethiobeat 05 - 02:01

06. Ethiobeat 06 - 02:33

07. Ethiobeat 07 - 02:02

08. Ethiobeat 08 - 02:13

09. Ethiobeat 09 - 03:01

10. Ethiobeat 10 - 02:28

11. Ethiobeat 11 - 02:12

12. Ethiobeat 12 - 02:40

13. Ethiobeat 13 - 02:55

14. Ethiobeat 14 - 03:08

Abraham Afewerki - Mistre Fekri [Secret of Love] [1998] [eritrea]

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       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.