Ethio Cali is a Los Angeles-based Ethio-Jazz ensemble, led by trumpeter, arranger, and composer Todd Simon. The ensemble’s sublime sound is inspired by the golden age of Ethiopian music of the 1960’s and 70’s, filtered through a lens that is uniquely Los Angeles.
Acknowledging the diverse musical foundations of Ethio-Jazz, the ensemble also draws inspiration from the rhythmic and melodic textures of Sudan, Somalia, Ghana, and Colombia. Ethio Cali’s published cassette Live at The Blue Whale. [ find it : HERE ]
Todd Simon's Ethio-Cali Ensemble - Fowler Museum at UCLA 8/14/11
Ethio Cali features: Todd Simon – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Music Director Kamasi Washington – Tenor Saxophone Randal Fisher – Tenor Saxophone Mark de Clive-Lowe – Keys Alan Lightner – Steel Pan Damon Aaron – Guitar Pat Bailey – Bass Steve Haney – Percussion Te’Amir Yohannes Sweeney – Percussion Dexter Story – Drums
Extended Family:
Kamasi Washington - Tenor Sax
Justo Almario - Tenor Sax/Clarinet
Richi Panta - Percussion
Geoff Mann - Percussion
Elizabeth Lea - Trombone
Mark Cross - Keys
Thomas Lea - Viola
Tylana Renga - Vioin
Peter Jacobson - Cello
Special Guests:
Dereb the Ambassador
Kelela Martin
Perna (Antibalas/Ocote Soul Sounds)
Jared Tankel (Budoes Band)
Aaron Johnson (Antibalas/FELA!)
Vardan Ovsepian
Semere-Ab Etmet
Yohannes Tutu
Sweeney Rickey
EthioCali - 01 - Azmar (11:19) EthioCali - 02 - Mulatu (13:14) EthioCali - 03 - Sabye (My Saba) - Live @ Del Monte Speakeasy March 17,12 (7:10) EthioCali - 04 - Sidama de Cali (5:11) EthioCali - 05 - Tadias - Live @ Del Monte Speakeasy March 17, 2012(7:10) EthioCali - 06 - Tiny Pyramids (8:08) EthioCali - 07 - Zafari Live at the Blue Whale (9:37) EthioCali - 08 - Zafari (8:50)
Tadesse Alemu (Amharic: ታደሠ ዓለሙ) was an Ethiopian singer from Wollega who sang traditional Ethiopian songs, sometimes Christian-based, in an upbeat pop-music style with the modern-day electronic instrumentation that is characteristic of today's Ethiopian popular music.
Active since 1997, nothing was known about his origins. However, an interview with Alemu's wife on Voice of Ethiopia radio during fall 2007 confirmed that he had become sick and died that July in Addis Ababa of a short disease, which resulted from an infection that was caused by a stabbing wound from several years previously that had not healed properly, just before he was set to leave the country on a concert tour.
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)
