Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - Worshilalo [2015] [eritrea]

Mahmud Mohammed (Aggar)- ሜረላ - Meerela

Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 01 - Wonaadilee (5:17)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 02 - Worshilalo (4:29)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 03 - Selamat (5:42)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 04 - Baadusereme (3:36)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 05 - Wolat Gebaayil (5:29)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 06 - Siraaro (6:03)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 07 - Meerela (5:04)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 08 - Sukana Kisha (4:55)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 09 - Kiroe (5:08)
Mahamud Mohammed Aggar - 10 - Anjaa (4:06)

Semahegn Belew - Inja [2015] [ethiopia]

Semahegn Belew - Tiga Belew

Semahegn Belew - 01 - Inja (4:55)

Semahegn Belew - 02 - Megen welo (6:41)

Semahegn Belew - 03 - Dmobla (5:20)

Semahegn Belew - 04 - Chferaw mnjar (6:43)

Semahegn Belew - 05 - Hode telalaw (6:13)

Semahegn Belew - 06 - Muyategn (4:49)

Semahegn Belew - 07 - Abebaye (6:08)

Semahegn Belew - 08 - Sanjaw sew bela (5:30)

Semahegn Belew - 09 - Keabay dur (5:36)

Semahegn Belew - 10 - Ite indet (6:18)

Semahegn Belew - 11 - Ljnet (5:55)

Tilahun W/Georgis - [2008] - Leb Leleb [ethiopia]

Tilahun W/Georgis - Kbriena Destayie

Tilahun W/Georgis - 01 - Amen (5:31)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 02 - Genet (5:49)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 03 - Heart To Heart (5:47)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 04 - What Do I Know (6:27)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 05 - Walk Of Life (5:17)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 06 - One For Maritu L. (7:55)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 07 - My Other Half (4:54)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 08 - Friend (5:15)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 09 - Let It Be (5:10)
Tilahun W/Georgis - 10 - I Am On The Road (4:56)

Yared Tefera - Park Center Mood [1997] [ethiopia]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Yared Tefera is one of the greatest ethiopian saxophone player. 

01. Yared Tefera - Tzeta (4:08)
02. Yared Tefera - Bedesasa Gojo ° (6:06)
03. Yared Tefera - Ney Ney (6:21)
04. Yared Tefera - Menem Salasebew/Fekren Belebae ° (5:41)
05. Yared Tefera - Anchi Hoyew Lene ° (6:01)
06. Yared Tefera - Gara Sernew ° (4:28)
07. Yared Tefera - Ambasel ° (6:19)
08. Yared Tefera - Uuta Ayaskefam ° (6:05)
09. Yared Tefera - Bemeshit Chereka ° (4:52)
10. Yared Tefera - Ewedeshalehu (8:01)
11. Yared Tefera - Bemeshit Chereka ° (5:11)
12. Yared Tefera - Park Center Mood ° (6:37)

Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex - Live At The Rio Loco [Toulouse, France, 17/6/11] [2011] VIDEO

   V I D E O   

Unfortunately, 

the great ethiopian saxophonist 

Getatchew Mekuria 

died today, on the april 4th 2016, 

at the age of 81

   GETATCHEW MEKURIA PASSED AWAY TODAY

MARCH 14, 1935 - APRIL 4, 2016

Getatchew passed away today. At the age of 81 and after a musical career of 68 years. He was a truely unique saxophone player. Born in the countryside of Ethiopia, he heard the saxophone on the radio at the age of 13 and went to Addis Abeba straight away. He wanted to play saxophone! And soon after that he got himself into the Municipality Band. Later he played in the Haile Selassie Orchestra's, the National Theatre Orchestra and more.
Since 2004 he played regularly with The Ex. It was his choice after hearing us at one of our festivals. He recognized something in our music which reminded him of the early groups he was in, like the Fetan Band (Speed Band). He loved playing with us and for us it was also an incredible experience. He was always totally himself, full-on intense and dedicated. We played more than 100 concerts and made two beautiful albums together.
The last few years, his health was not very good. He couldn't really go on tour anymore. As a kind of farewell concert for his fans, we organized a big event in the National Theatre in Addis Abeba. He got lots of attention and respect that night: 1500 people in the audience, three TV stations and a legendary concert. Getatchew was playing while sitting on a chair, but his playing was stronger than ever.
His whole life was music. With his unique sound and approach he leaves behind an eternal inspiration!

We will miss him.

The Ex & Friends

Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex

       Getatchew Mekuria is the most revered veteran of the Ethiopian saxophone -  a physical and musical giant whose “Negus of Ethiopian Sax”  album featured in the acclaimed “Ethiopiques” reissue series. Now 76 years old, he has collaborated with all the great Ethiopian singers over the years and is still in full voice with his own, powerfully distinctive style of playing. His huge vibrato, both forceful and fragile, plays around the vocal lines, using typical Ethiopian embellishments. He dons a lion’s mane when he plays and cuts loose with furious solos that come over like a kind of free jazz from before free jazz existed.

     Since 1979, Amsterdam’s The Ex have consistently pushed the envelope, plotting a restless course from their anarchist punk origins to embrace everything sound could throw at them. Their thrillingly raw and rhythmic rock sound is born from their ideals, musical friendships/networks and work ethic. They are one of the most visceral rock units in action today.

     Ever hungry to place themselves in unfamiliar contexts, The Ex toured Ethiopia twice and fell in love with its music, which led to them inviting Getatchew to perform at their 25th anniversary party in Holland. His contribution to proceedings blasted everyone off stage, and, suitably inspired, The Ex invited him on tour with them, their incendiary live collaboration bearing fruits in a blistering album released on the band’s Terp Records imprint in 2006.

Abraham Afewerki - Kozli Gaba [1991] [eritrea]

Abraham Afewerki (1966–2006)

Abraham Afewerki (1966–2006) was an Eritrean singer, songwriter and music producer. Noted for his unique Tigrinya-based compositions and lyrics, he was one of the most recognized figures among Eritrean musicians and celebrities.

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. All his songs are legally distributed and protected by Ella Records currently.

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.

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, Abraham drowned while swimming in Massawa during the filming of his next music video.

Abraham was described as an Eritrean musical tour-de-force. Held in high regard by his fellow Eritrean artists, his work garnered appreciation and admiration from his peers. His musical influence also crossed 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 Afewerki - Kozli Gaba (4:48)

Abraham Afewerki - Wegahta (6:36)

Abraham Afewerki - Meley (7:50)

Abraham Afewerki - Aygodelen (5:55)

Abraham Afewerki - Hisebilu (6:54)

Abraham Afewerki - Misay (6:11)