Blogtrotters

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Mulatu Astatke – Sketches of Ethiopia [2013] [ethiopia]




  R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D  






         Sketches of Ethiopia is, extraordinarily, the first album Mulatu Astatke, the godfather of Ethio-jazz, has recorded with his own band for an international label of influence. It has been a long time coming and it is a corker.






         Astatke, on vibraphone and keyboards, is accompanied by his regular touring band, Step Ahead, which has at its core A-list British jazz musicians—among them, trumpeter Byron Wallen, drummer Tom Skinner
bassist John Edwards and reed player James Arden. Step Ahead’s 12-piece line-up also includes players of traditional Ethiopian instruments including the masinko (one-string lute), krar (lyre) and washint (bamboo flute). 

      In addition, there are half a dozen guest musicians, who include rising Malian vocalist Fatoumata Diawara, who sings on the final track.






          The album, a mix of originals and arrangements of traditional Ethiopian tunes, is generally hotter and more urgent than you would expect from Astatke’s classic early 1970s recordings. That vibe is revisited on two tracks: “Gumuz,” a traditional melody given a laid back, West Coast jazz-funk arrangement, and Astatke’s “Motherland Abay,” a showcase for the Ethiopian instruments. Elsewhere the album reflects Step Ahead’s up-tempo, dance-friendly live approach. The material is largely through-written and the emphasis is on the ensemble, as always with Astatke: composer/arrangers Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn were prominent among his formative jazz influences.


           Born in 1943, Astatke studied in Britain and the US in the 1960s. He returned to Ethiopia towards the end of the decade, in the dog days of Haile Selassie’s imperial rule. State control of the music business was weakening and a handful of enthusiasts were setting up independent labels which the expiring regime lacked the energy to close down. But the audience for Astatke’s music was small, for Ethiopia had no broad tradition of instrumental music. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, ousted Selassie and seized power. Under the Derg, Ethiopia’s fledgling music business was suppressed.


          Internationally, Astatke’s fortunes improved in the late 1990s, when the Paris-based label Buda Musique launched its Ethiopiques reissue series. Volume four, Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969—1974, released in 1998, comprised album tracks and singles recorded by Astatke either under his own name or as arranger/bandleader. 

        People began to pick up on Ethio-jazz, among them US movie director Jim Jarmusch, who featured Astatke’s 1970s recordings prominently on the soundtrack of Broken Flowers (2005). In the film’s wake, Astatke toured and recorded with the Heliocentrics and Either/Orchestra. 


        In 2010, Mochilla released Timeless, recorded in concert in the US with leading local players.


        Sketches of Ethiopia is essentially Astatke and Step Ahead’s live set performed in the studio by an expanded line-up. It makes the transition with resounding success.


Personnel: 

Step Ahead: 

Mulatu Astatke: vibraphone, piano, keyboards; 
Yohanes Afwork: washint; 
James Arben: flute, oboe, tenor saxophone, clarinet; 
Messale Asmamow: krar; 
Richard Olatunde Baker: percussion; 
John Edwards: double bass, bass; 
Indris Hassun: masinko; 
Alexander Hawkins: piano, keyboards; 
Danny Keane: keyboards, cello; 
Tom Skinner: drums; 
Tesfaye: lead vocals (2, 4, 6); 
Byron Wallen: trumpet. 


Guests: 

Fatoumata Diawara: lead vocals (8); 
Francois Cordas: tenor saxophone (5); 
Kandia Kora: kora (2, 4, 7); 
Eric Longsworth: cello (5); 
Jean-Baptiste Saint-Martin: guitar (2, 5, 6); 
Francois Verly: percussion (2-8); 
Memeru: choir leader

v.a. - ETHIObeat presents ethiobeats [2007] [ethiopia]






Ethiopian modern music - Collection for chill-out







Great mixtape of modern ethiopian beats and music. 166 minutes of pleasure. 

Enjoy!

   156 mb,  2:46:28   



Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Ephrem Tamiru - [1986] - with Roha Band [1978 e.c] [ethiopia]



   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   



1978 is Ethiopian calendar, of course


01. Ephrem Tamiru - Anchi Lij (6:07)
02. Ephrem Tamiru - Bechegna Negn (4:34)
03. Ephrem Tamiru - Chaladre (12:05)
04. Ephrem Tamiru - Mafqer sewnetie (5:27)
05. Ephrem Tamiru -     ?     (5:13)
06. Ephrem Tamiru - Nafkoten (3:10)
07. Ephrem Tamiru - Shegemar (6:28)
08. Ephrem Tamiru - Wedage (6:47)
09. Ephrem Tamiru - Weleba (7:26)
10. Ephrem Tamiru - Yeshega Lij Mewded (5:03)


Friday, November 14, 2014

The Black Jesus Experience - Yeluinta [2010] [aus+ethiopia]





The Black Jesus Experience and Mulatu Astatke



       2010 release, a superb Funk/Hip-Hop album from the Australian band Black Jesus ExperienceYelluinta fuses an irresistible blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st Century groove. The rhymes and chimes of the band deliver the musical strength and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Jazz.






01 - The Black Jesus Experience - Arada (3:49)
02 - The Black Jesus Experience - Guraginya (4:18)
03 - The Black Jesus Experience - Don't Cry For The Fallen (4:41)
04 - The Black Jesus Experience - Yeluinta (5:05)
05 - The Black Jesus Experience - Lonnie's Lament-Dawitt Abatachew (5:15)
06 - The Black Jesus Experience - Let's Call Her (2:46)
07 - The Black Jesus Experience - Bohemia (5:38)




        Black Jesus Experience (BJX) is an 8 piece band playing an irresistibly danceable blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st Century groove. As diverse as the 5 continents the members of 'BJX' hail from, their music reflects the multicultural vibrancy of the band's hometown, Melbourne, Australia. 

       When not touring BJX run a weekly session at cultural hub The Horn where BJX create new songs live on stage. The comfort BJX has with this practice lies in the improvising traditions of that feed BJX including Hip Hop, Jazz, Azmari and Rutu Pa'u. 

        The music is also fed quite literally before each performance by the ritual of a group meal prepared by singer Enushu and MD Peter Harper in the Ethiopian tradition, "those who eat from the same plate will not betray each other". This inspires and reinforces bonds musical, social and spiritual, bonds BJX invite their audiences to join. 

      Enushu began entertaining her local community as a child in Addis Ababa. Forced to leave Ethiopia, Enushu migrated to Australia bringing hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by her remarkable life story and the unique vocal traditions of Ethiopia. Enushu is joined on vocals by poetic giant and lyrical miracle The Monk, Zimbabwe born and Outback bred. 

     Highlights for BJX include two tours of "the Motherland" Ethiopia, performing with Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke in Europe and Australia (an association which won BJX and Mulatu "The Age Best Tour" award) Glastonbury and other great festivals. 

    The rhymes and chimes of Black Jesus Experience deliver the power and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Funk.



members  :

Enushu Taye
Peter Harper
Ian Dixon
Liam Monkhouse
Chris Frangou
Matt Head
Zac Lister




Thursday, November 13, 2014

v.a. - State of Eritrea - Natasha Stallard Transmissions 004 [2013] [eritrea]




       "Last August, I spent a week or so in Eritrea during the country's annual cultural festival. I was alone and documented a lot—buidings, food, the names of internet cafés, among other things. Hunting for music, I spent a lot of time in a small music shop opposite the Asmara post office. I was looking for RnB, but fell in love with the cover artwork of the EPLF (Eritrean People’s Liberation Front) cassette tapes instead. Recorded in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the songs were sung, performed, recorded and distributed among the various EPLF contingents during their 21 year struggle against the Ethiopian occupation and its infamous Derg, before winning independence in 1991.

       The silky voiced Tefono and female freedom fighter Abrehet Ankere were among the most popular singers as well as the much-loved Wedi Tikul,. The songs are still listened to today—mostly on cassette tape—and even the saddest lyrics move along happily with a popcorn kind of rhythm."

NJ Stallard





tracklist :

01 - Kede'At Deki Hager — Fihira
02 — Ayresanayon 77 — Tefono
03 — Wahiz Gu'zo — Zemach
04 — Ab Bebeynu Ewan (Fechew version) — Wedi Tukul
05 — Sahil ilen tebegisen — Nighsti Nigo
06 — Keyih Nebri — Tefono
07 — Halaw Wesen — Gual Ankere
08 — Afriqawit Vietnam — Tefono
09 — Zimtse Yimtsa Werari — Fihira




42:45     72 mb



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Arat Kilo - 12 Days in Addis [2013] [fra+ethiopia]





Arat Kilo - Babur feat. Socalled



       Ethiopian jazz is a major branch of African music that comes from the bars of Addis Ababa and draws its influence from jazz and traditional Ethiopian music, azmari, Latin sounds and Anglo-American funk. Choosing to adapt this music in a contemporary and more urban style, Arat Kilo draws inspiration from rock music and the hypnotic sounds of dub.

  Their show alternates compositions and standard Ethiopian arrangements (a beautiful meeting was held at RFI’s studio with Mulatu Astatké, the father of Ethiopian jazz) 






       Born of a meeting to the Musiqueyras’s festival in July 2008, Arat Kilo is an elecric quintet which revisits the Ethiopian jazz and grooves of the seventies: between modern grooves, compositions and Ethiopian standards.





01 - Arat Kilo - Ankober Hotel (3:42)
02 - Arat Kilo - Lonmewo Lalie (feat. Mimi) (3:24)
03 - Arat Kilo - Sugal Yelem (feat. Mimi) (4:15)
04 - Arat Kilo - Belu Inji (feat. Nardos Tesfaw & Fendika Crew) [Live] (4:00)
05 - Arat Kilo - Babur, Pt. 1 (S.Mos Remix) (3:00)
06 - Arat Kilo - Enie Konjo (Robert le Magnifique Remix) (3:10)




members are :

Fabien Girard - guitar, balafon
Michael Havard - saxophones, flute
Aristide Goncalves - trumpet, keyboards
Samuel Hirsch - bass, kalimba
Arnold Turpin - drums, melodica

Gérald Bonnegrace - congas, bongos