Big Shawn is musician from San Francisco, California, USA. He makes hip-hop/ rap/ instrumental music. Here is his extraordinary work from 2011 based on old ethiopian tunes and hits.
BIG SHAWN - 01 (3:21) BIG SHAWN - 02 (3:26) BIG SHAWN - 03 (3:36) BIG SHAWN - 04 (4:03) BIG SHAWN - 05 (3:51) BIG SHAWN - 06 (3:11) BIG SHAWN - 07 (4:15) BIG SHAWN - 08 (3:41) BIG SHAWN - 09 (3:38) BIG SHAWN - 10 (3:48) BIG SHAWN - 11 (3:50) BIG SHAWN - 12 (3:33) BIG SHAWN - 13 (3:42)
Kibrom Birhane is Ethiopian Pianist, Multi Instrumentalist / producer / songwriter / Record / Mix engineer, arranger and composer passionate about Ethiopian folk, world, pop, jazz and gospel music.
Kibrom started his musical career in a very early stage of his life, and had the opportunity to work, perform and record with musicians from all over the world. While attending Los Angeles College of music, he was fortunate to learn under great musicians such as: Sean Halley (Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Marotta, Richard Marx), Andre Knecht, Andrew Murdock (Godsmack, Alice Cooper, Linkin Park), Dave Pozzi (Celine Dion, Diana Krall), Howie Shear (George Benson, Stevie Wonder), Tony Inzalaco (Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon) and many others.
Kibrom Birhane - Zelesegna ዘለሰኛ
Learning how to play the krar, a five stringed traditional Ethiopian lyre, at age 8, Kibrom Birhane found himself enthralled by Orthodox chanting. “Always it moves me when I hear music,” he says. And from that time on he knew he wanted to pursue a career in music. Kibrom eventually began teaching piano to other students for about three years before receiving a scholarship to attend the Los Angeles College of Music where he developed a passion beyond Ethiopian folk music, and became a songwriter and composer focusing on the fusion of Ethiopian folk with jazz and gospel sounds. His debut album entitled ‘Kibrom’s Tizita’ was recently released by Tsehai Records, a new division of Tsehai Publishers. Kibrom describes his new album as “an exploration of Ethiopian heritage through folk and pop music with a jazz backbone.”
Kibrom is also a record and mixing engineer and says he “learned to play all of these different roles over time, and with that came new innovations” in his music and sound. His solo pieces are among his most personal works, and Kibrom shares that they are “an expression of what I feel at the moment. I don’t study or learn solos; I just play them.”
Kibrom hopes to reach the younger generation with his music. He sees the power of fusion as a way to expose individuals to Ethiopian music while adopting a style that is already familiar to them (such as jazz). Kibrom has already garnered some success including writing the score for the documentary film ‘Sincerely Ethiopia,’ singing in the award-winning documentary ‘Get Together Girls,’ and composing music for the documentary on the African Union’s 50th year celebration.
“The raw sincerity of Birhane’s music seeks to make strong connections with listeners as they are transported on a musical journey. And a journey it is – Kibrom uses Ethiopian scales, which are rarely heard in Western music. The distinct nature of these scales makes for hypnotic listening,” states Tsehai Records.
Kibrom Birhane - 01 - Pending Prayer (4:06)
Kibrom Birhane - 02 - Yonas Gorfe Tribute (5:10)
Kibrom Birhane - 03 - Simagne Hageree (4:25)
Kibrom Birhane - 04 - Wazema (5:26)
Kibrom Birhane - 05 - Broken but Beautiful (10:06)
Teshome Wolde is born 8 September 1957, Shoa, Ethiopia. A soul singer in the style of Mahmoud Ahmed, Wolde first found success in the mid-70s with a series of acclaimed performances at the City Hall Theatre in Addis Ababa. In 1981 he released his first cassette in Ethiopia and he has subsequently released eight more for the local market. He has performed throughout Ethiopia and in neighbouring countries including Djibouti and Saudi Arabia. He has also toured in Europe and the USA.
His debut CD, The Ethiopian Soul Review, was recorded at a concert at the Rocket Hall in London in 1994, with backing supplied by the Ethio Stars. Released four years later it features a mixture of high-energy dance tunes and soulful ballads and resembles an intense North African version of the Memphis Soul Reviews of the 60s.
Teshome Wolde
Teshome Wolde’s love of music took root at a very young age. Early on, he imitated popular artists such as Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed and Teshome Mitiku, singing their hits to his friends and family. A turning point came when the Soul Echos Band staged a live performance at his middle school; Teshome heard Alemayehu Eshete and Getachew Kassa sing and, at that moment, decided that music was his true calling. Against his parents’ advice, he left school to pursue his dream. After being tested by renowned music instructor and band conductor Nerses Nalbandian, Teshome was hired at the City Hall and has been performing there ever since. Eight years into his professional career, home entered the recording studio for the first time, along with the Dahlak Band, and has since recorded eight albums with a variety of bands, including the legendary Roha Band.
Teshome’s career has afforded him the opportunity to travel worldwide, sharing his songs with music lovers across the globe. He participated in the 11th World Young Festival in Cuba and the 13th World Young Festival in North Korea and has performed concerts in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. One of his fondest memories is sharing the stage with the Ethio-Stars Band during the AIT-sponsored 1991 North American Tour.
Aklilu Seyum was one of the most talented singers and songwriters from Ethiopia. He has born 1954 in Gonder and started music career at the age of 18, by joining Police Orchestra.
Aklilu Seyum was not lonely among a list of artists who succeeded and reached the public consciousness of modern Ethiopian music. He published 9 solo albums and 1 collaboration album
Aklilu left Ethiopia in 1990 and went to Israel.
He died on saturday, 04/12/2010. after a long struggle that lasted four years as a result of cancer.
Mary Armeday's love-folk songs and her unique krar playing style have become a classic in the history of ethiopian music and she will forever be remembered for her talent and her love for entertaining.
