Blogtrotters

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - [1977] - Abaro Geday [ethiopia]




Tilahun Gessesse - Fesum Yelesh Acha






        Tilahun Gessesse was born on 29 September 1940, in Addis Ababa and died on 19 April 2009.

    Tilahun was born to Woizero Gete Gurmu and Ato Gessesse Negussee. When he was fourteen years old, he was taken by his grandfather to Waliso Oromia where he began attending Ras Gobena Elementary School.

       As time went by, his interest in music became increasingly clear, although his grandfather urged him to concentrate on his academic studies. The Ras Gobena School Principal Mr. Shedad (who was from Sudan), encouraged Tilahun's interest in music and urged him to go to Sudan to pursue his music career. Although Tilahun did not go to Sudan, he took Mr. Shedad's advice very seriously. When Woizro Negatwa Kelkai, Ato Eyoel Yohanes and others artists from the Hager Fikir Theatre came to his school to perform, Tilahun took the opportunity to discuss his interest in music with Ato Eyoel. He was told to go to Addis Ababa if he wanted to pursue a career in the field.

       Tilahun left school to go to Addis Ababa, a journey he began on foot without his grandfather's consent. When his grandfather realized that Tilahun was no longer in Woliso, he informed Tilahun's great-aunt in Tulu Bolo. After Tilahun traveled fifteen kilometers on foot, he was caught in Tulu Bolo and stayed overnight with his great-aunt Woizero Temene Bantu. The next day, he was forced to return back to his grandfather in Woliso. Since his interest in music lay deep in his heart, Gessesse chose not to stay at his grandfather's house in Woliso. After staying only one night at his grandfather’s house, he again began his journey to Addis Ababa, this time hiding himself in the back of a loaded truck.

       Ethiopian News - Tilahun GessesseIn Addis Ababa, Tilahun was first hired by the Hager Fikir Association, which is now known as Hager Fikir Theater. After a few years at the Hager Fikir Theater, he joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer. During his time with the band, Gessesse ran afoul of the government after the attempted coup d'état of December 1960 by the Imperial Bodyguard. He was arrested and put in prison for a time.

      Tilahun moved to the National Theater where his success continued. He was so famous that he appeared three times in front of Emperor Haile Selassie I. During a visit, the Emperor advised him not to abuse his talent.

        Tilahun's recordings are in Amharic and Oromo.

    He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University, in appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music. He has also received an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust.

       Tilahun Gessesse died on April 19, 2009. He had been in poor health for several years due to diabetes.





01 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Abarro Gedaye (6:29)
02 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Yeqolegna Lidj Nat (4:30)
03 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Akam Neguma (6:54)
04 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Bewodish New Enne (5:46)
05 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Metenegna Lidj Nat (5:31)
06 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Yetelash Yitla (9:09)
07 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Ye Fiqir Sebago (5:53)
09 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Tsegereda (5:25)
10 - Tilahun Gessesse with the Ibex Band - Fiqerey Wey Yalantchi (5:48)



Saturday, October 25, 2014

Robel Musika - Nesa [2011] [usa+ethiopia]





Robel Musika - Gelila






Robel Musika - Tey Manesh (5:31)
Robel Musika - Ethio Swag (4:58)
Robel Musika - Gelila (3:01)
Robel Musika - Liben Tiche Metaw (3:00)
Robel Musika - Ase Tedros (3:21)
Robel Musika - Ebedubet (3:50)
Robel Musika - Sebebena (4:00)
Robel Musika - Hold ya (4:12)
Robel Musika - Nesanet (4:54)
Robel Musika - Abesha Party (3:45)
Robel Musika - Ene na my girlfriend (2:51)


Friday, October 24, 2014

Getachew H/Mariam - Barebada [2004] [ethiopia]





Getachew H/Mariam - Geerarsa








01 - Getachew H. Mariam - Meshama (7:08)
02 - Getachew H. Mariam - Berbada (6:48)
03 - Getachew H. Mariam - Numan-Bowa (5:14)
04 - Getachew H. Mariam - Gerarisa (5:40)
05 - Getachew H. Mariam - Seko-Seko Fegene (5:36)
06 - Getachew H. Mariam - Ayangalo (6:45)
07 - Getachew H. Mariam - Yarabi (5:00)
08 - Getachew H. Mariam - Magan-Magale (6:31)
09 - Getachew H. Mariam - Anunabe (5:29)
10 - Getachew H. Mariam - Esti Endetnesh (6:39)


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Damtew Ayele - Gojam Azene [2004] [ethiopia]





Damtew Ayele - Gojam Azene










01 - Damtew Ayele - Merea (6:14)
02 - Damtew Ayele - Yewolo Lij (6:52)
03 - Damtew Ayele - Yenema (6:24)
04 - Damtew Ayele - Wolelaye (5:12)
05 - Damtew Ayele - Menjar (6:36)
06 - Damtew Ayele - Gojam Azene (6:56)
07 - Damtew Ayele - Arebereb (4:53)
08 - Damtew Ayele - Awdamet (4:50)
09 - Damtew Ayele - Amora Hognalehu (5:51)
10 - Damtew Ayele - Temesgen Elalehu (5:28)


v.a. - unknown Somali album




Nimco Dareem





Unknown Somali album - Track 01 (3:44)
  Unknown Somali album - Track 02 (10:05)
Unknown Somali album - Track 03 (6:29)
Unknown Somali album - Track 04 (7:13)
Unknown Somali album - Track 05 (6:48)
Unknown Somali album - Track 06 (6:55)
Unknown Somali album - Track 07 (6:41)
Unknown Somali album - Track 08 (5:22)
Unknown Somali album - Track 09 (5:24)
Unknown Somali album - Track 10 (7:13)



Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Kazanchis + 1 - [2014] - Live @ Taktlos festival, Zurich 05-25




Trio Kazanchis - Nanu Nanu Neye


       Trio Kazanchis got together by coincidence in 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's musical hotspot while playing jam sessions in Melaku Belay's Club Fendika and Mulatu Astatke's own African-Jazz Club before touring Europe in underground venues and related festivals.

  




      Kazanchis +1 plays songs with an Ethiopian origin, either modern or traditional, and a European '80s touch, combined with free energetic improvisation using highly-developed Ethiopian pentatonic scales, from slow and trance-like to up-tempo, energetic moods. The band's choice of instruments presented itself on European stages as very elastic, nicely melting together, and also as a challenging combination -- all-in-all successful. 

     Mesele Asmamaw, described as the Jimi Hendrix of the electric krar (the 6-string Ethiopian lyre), has become known as an innovator & virtuoso of his instrument in Ethiopia. Fabien Duscombs, the quicksilver drummer from Toulouse lays down the perfect grid for Mesele to play his syncopating accents. Jeroen Visser glues the two tightly together, providing bass and chords with his Farfisa organ/synth, or challenges their sounds with his baritone sax. Since the summer of 2013, the amazing masinqo-player (a one-stringed violin) Endris Hassen has become a full member of the group, completing the sound and surprisingly even reinforcing the trio-feel.





     Trio Kazanchis’ Mèssèlè Asmamaw has been selected as 2013 Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist at www.africanjazz.info.



01 - Kazanchis + 1 - Sadulay (6:19)
02 - Kazanchis + 1 - announcement (0:53)
03 - Kazanchis + 1 - Agerva Wasa Megena (6:04)
04 - Kazanchis + 1 - announcement (0:12)
05 - Kazanchis + 1 - Astawesalehu (7:23)
06 - Kazanchis + 1 - Ayne Hulgize Yesasaleshal [fadeout] (4:36)