Blogtrotters

Monday, November 4, 2013

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


   EXTENDED      R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D   





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)


Friday, November 1, 2013

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)


Seleshe Demassae - Songs from Ethiopia today [1993]



   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   



       This album has a collection of fun, upbeat, and playful songs. It is unusual in the sense that it is a collection of childrens play songs but its great beats and rhythm make it a definite must have...


 Seleshe Damassae - Hoya Hoya


Souleymane Toure (talking drum, djembe)

Fuad Temam, Zemene Abuhay, Bisrat Lenna, Abiy Alemayehu, Fasid Lemmar, Shewanqziwe Abate, Abiy Letachew Abebe, Tadesse Woyessa, Getachew Zewdie (background vocals)



1. Eté Meté    2:29
2. Degegna    4:20
3. Tewale    5:14
4. Ya Megalé    3:53
5. Degé            5:46
6. Ché            4:15
7. Endeyawes    5:42
8. Worio Wata 4:37
9. Alé Hoy    2:34
10. Denbouche    2:24
11. Ere Amsal    4:48
12. Agaro            3:29
13. Neterek    4:29
14. Ambasel    6:28
15. Segno Maskegno 3:26
16. Aya Ho Ho    4:35

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Jano - Ertale [2012] [ethiopia]








JANO - An Ethiopian rock explosion melodies, massive bass and drum poly rhythms, metal guitar assault, soaring vocals, dense electronic textures.

A devastating energy blast! So far, there has been nothing this powerful and versatile that might be associated with "word music". African futurism at its most liberated and intense, a hard rock element unheard of in Ethiopian music, until now, its the New Rock Revolution.






JANO BAND - Erikum




The ensemble cast drips with talent. Guitarist Michael Hailu supplies the force with huge metal riffs and a detailed harmonic sense. The dual vocals of Debekelu Tafesse and Hailu Amerga are complete contrast with each other. Back and forth, one after another, creating a completely unexpected dynamic that never let's up.

The vision of this music is awe-inspiring.The raw talent, energy and power of the group is overwhelming. It is a musical earth quake the likes of which we haven't seen in generation.the next generation of world music has arrived with a mighty explosion. Stand and behold!

The tracks on JANO's debut release are a tour de force of Ethiopian music reinvented with the intense energy of a rock band and the barley restrained fury of a youth already seeking redemption-a clear parallel to the smoldering volcano in northeast Ethiopia that is namesake for the album, Ertale.










ERTALE was produced by the legendary producer and musician Bill Laswell who has worked with an extraordinary range of musicians, artists and thinkers around the world. In the Americans Africa, The Caribbean, Europe, The middle East, India, China and Japan.

JANO was created and managed by Trio Entertainment, which was founded by Addis Gessese (Ziggy Marely, Teddy Afro and Gigi) and Ermiyas Amelga, Founder Chairman and CEO of the Access Group of Companies. JANO is destined to conquer the world.

This is not just an introduction to a new music but to the history of a diverse culture unlike any other. Ethiopia, the only African Country not to be colonized by foreign powers, champions of the battle of Adwa.

Enjoy JANO band!



Jano - 01 - Ethiopiawit Konjo (4:07)
Jano - 02 - Yigermal (4:59)
Jano - 03 - Irasen (6:21)
Jano - 04 - Ayrak (5:05)
Jano - 05 - Irrekum (5:06)
Jano - 06 - Gude (6:53)
Jano - 07 - Mariye (6:55)
Jano - 08 - Mehed Mehed (6:28)
Jano - 09 - Tazebkut (7:06)
Jano - 10 - Anchi Hegere (4:04)



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Muluken Melesse - 3+1 [ethiopia]






       Muluken Melesse (born 1954) was an Ethiopian singer and drummer who later abandoned his music career to involve himself in the Pentecostal Church. Melesse was born in Gojjiam, a province in Northern Ethiopia. When he was six, he moved to Addis Ababa with his uncle. In 1966, aged 12, he began his musical career singing at night clubs and in groups founded by night club owners, with his first song to be performed on stage, Enate Sitewoldgne Metchi Amakerchign.

       His first song to be recorded on vinyl was Hedetch Alu, which was recorded in 1972 by Girma Bèyènè (piano and arrangements), Tesfa Mariam Kidane (tenor sax), Tekle Adhanonm (guitar), Fekade Amde Meskel (bass), Tesfay Mekonnen (drums) and Melesse himself. In 1975, he recorded his second song, Wetetie Mare and Ete Endenesh Gedawo, with 'Equator Band', and a year later in 1976 he recorded what was to be his last song, Ney Ney Wodaje. While the remained of the band emigrated to the United States of America, Melesse remained to join the Pentecostal Church in the 1980s, having ended his musical career.

      "In the early 1980 Muluken accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his saviour and Lord. From his own testimony, he chose to follow Jesus Christ completely by leaving the world behind. Since then He served the Lord with all his heart. 

       Muluken was approached by people a lot of time to return to the music world but he preferred to be with the people of the Lord and minister to them. Muluke is married and resides in Washington DC metropolitan area. He ministers by traveling all over the world.



 


Muluken Melesse - Nanu Nanu Ney  [with Dahlak Band]

01. Muluken Melesse - Nanu Nanu Ney (6:05)
02. Muluken Melesse - Wodijesh Nebere (8:03)
03. Muluken Melesse - Aynuma (4:02)
04. Muluken Melesse - Embuwa Bey Lamitu (6:48)
05. Muluken Melesse - Nafkote (5:55)
06. Muluken Melesse - Kemekem (6:37)
07. Muluken Melesse - Gedamay (5:14)
08. Muluken Melesse - Yene Konjo (6:25)
09. Muluken Melesse - Bematebuwa Ledagni (6:13)
10. Muluken Melesse - Minew Hode Baba (6:39)


Nanu Nanu Ney -   No. 2  
album with Dahlak Band Arranged by Dawit Yifru And Muluken Melesse,

Piano - Dawit Yifru,
Ledguitar - David Kassa, 
Bassguitar - Abera Fiyesa, 
Drum - Tesfaye Tesmma ,
Saxaphone - Tilaye Gebre, 
Trumpet - Shimeles Beyene.

Produced by Electra Music shope



 

Muluken Melesse - Lakiligne [with Dahlak Band]

01. Muluken Melesse - Lakilign (8:15)
02. Muluken Melesse - Minew Kerefede (8:22)
03. Muluken Melesse - Zebenay (6:06)
04. Muluken Melesse - Gelayewa (7:24)
05. Muluken Melesse - Fikir Teru Engida (9:24)
06. Muluken Melesse - Baynish Lilefibet (7:07)
07. Muluken Melesse - Goferesh (5:19)
08. Muluken Melesse - Bergit Agegnish Woy (9:21)


Lakilegne - No. 5 album with Dahlak Band, 

Arranged by Dawit Yifru and David Kassa 
Lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo,
Melody Muluken Melesse and Halilayasues Amare,

Piano - Dawit Yifru,
Ledguitar - David Kassa, 
Bassguitar - Abera Fiyesa, 
Drums - Tesfaye Tesmma 
Saxaphone - Tilaye Gebre,
Trumpet - Shimeles Beyene.

Produced by Central Electronics Music Shope




Muluken Melesse - Wuha Welawaye  [with Ethio Star Band]

01. Muluken Melesse - Wuha Welawaye (7:09)
02. Muluken Melesse - Tizaz Begelaye (7:20)
03. Muluken Melesse - Demam Gonie (7:01)
04. Muluken Melesse - Kuretilign Hode (7:05)
05. Muluken Melesse - Zeb Lekum (5:25)
06. Muluken Melesse - Lewozawoz (6:44)
07. Muluken Melesse - Atekebdegnim (6:09)
08. Muluken Melesse - Endet Lechalew (5:41)


Wuha Welawaye   -   No. 7 album  with Ethio Star Band 

Arranged by Muluken Melesse and Mulatu Astatke 

Ledguitar - Mengsha Teffra, 
Bassguitar - David Kassa,
Drums - Berhane Yosef, 
Keyboards - Abegasu Kebrework,
Conga,Keyboard,Drums - Mulatu Astatke,
Saxophone - Girma Woldemichael, 
Saxophone - Teshome Deneke,
Trumpet - Shimeles Beyene.

Muluken Melesse - Muluken Melesse vol 1 [1999]


   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   




01. Muluken Melesse - Menew Keferede (8:18)
02. Muluken Melesse - Nanu Ney (6:24)
03. Muluken Melesse - Hodenew (7:54)
04. Muluken Melesse - Akale Gena (6:28)
05. Muluken Melesse - Sewenetua (7:49)
06. Muluken Melesse - Gelayewa (8:18)
07. Muluken Melesse - Wodejesh Neber (5:35)
08. Muluken Melesse - Demam Gone (6:35)
09. Muluken Melesse - Embwa Belew (3:59)
10. Muluken Melesse - Tenesh Kelbe Lay (4:28)