Blogtrotters

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Sheba Sound - Cassette Chichika – Dance-floor heavy [ethiopia]




    visit Sheba Sound official site : HERE                                  






  Cassette Chichika – Dance-floor heavy 


The second in a series of mixes of obscure Ethio-funk Chichika gems, direct from Sheba Sound.

None of the songs on this mix were ever pressed up on a record, or reissued on CD. They are all original sounds recently dug up from old cassette shops around Ethiopia.

In 1974 Mengistu crushed Haile Selassie and came into power in Ethiopia. By the late 70s, all the labels pressing up tunes on vinyl, such as Amha and Philips, had been forced to shut down their operations.

This left the cassette shops to continue the work of publishing the new music that was coming out. Notable heavyweight houses pushing Amaharic music, such as Electra and Anbassel, took the lion’s share of the big names.

Naturally, as time went by, the sound of the music evolved. In this mix, you will hear how the classic 70s ‘ethio-funk’ sound (represented in the first ‘Chichika’ mix on this site) transforms in the 80s into something much less frantic and more precise. The bands themselves tend to be smaller, allowing the bass players to take a more driving lead. This particular evolution of the bass defines the sound of Amhara music from this period.




Tracklist (Artist / Title / Label)

01 - Aregahegne Werash – Nafkot Yalefal (Electra)
02 - Haile Mikael – Lebe Gerageru (Anbassel)
03 - Muluken Melesse Lemezawaez (Electra)
04 - Ephrem Tamru – Akal Gela (Electra 1978)
05 - Kefel Bekele – Mela Alesh (Menaz 1984)
06 - Thiedros Tadesse – Bmewededachen (Electra)
07 - Ayalew Mesfin – Kalegne Fegshem (Ayalew Bet)
08 - Tsegaye Eshetu – Agerash Shegar
09 - Teshome Welde – Matewa (Genet)
10 - Fisseha Alamayehu – Endenesh
11 - Haile Mikael – Agebe (Anbassel)


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Ketema Makonnen - Ketema Makonnen [PH131] [1972] [ethiopia]



originally posted here : A Tertiary Source










           An incredibly skilled player of the Kirar, or the 6-string bowled lyre, Ketema Makonnen's style is comparable to that of Kassa Tessema (who was recently documented on Buda's Ethiopiques). Deeply sorrowful and forlorn, these strings kick up a dusty trail of longing, intuitively navigated by his warm, rustic voice. I find his style much more penetrating than that of Kassa's, where Tessema has a gentler pluck of his krar and a softer vocal leverage, Ketema has a higher degree of ferocity.





Ketema Makonnen - Tizita 1974-5



            Although digging up information on Mekonnen has proven to be difficult, partially due to the varied spellings of his last name (Amharic to English translations are, indeed, fickle), he does have at least one other album recorded for Phillips documented from 1974.







       On this album, many recognizable Tizita classics are heard, including Tizita itself, as well as a personal favorite, Mela Mela (any Ethiopian artist who sings this heart-wrenching ballad tends to leave an impression on me). Mekonnen's rendition is gorgeous, and some of the more obscure titles on the B side match the quality of it. Whirling with delirious melodic shifts, Mekonnen's style is unique and compelling. While basic details of his life are difficult to extract from the labyrinthine depths of the internet, his mark is made on the traditional side of 1970s Ethiopia with this deeply emotional recording.




Ketema Makonnen - 01 - Tizita (5:23)
Ketema Makonnen - 02 - Fano-Che Belew (4:23)
Ketema Makonnen - 03 - Bati (4:25)
Ketema Makonnen - 04 - Mela Mela (6:26)
Ketema Makonnen - 05 - Antchi Hoye (6:07)
Ketema Makonnen - 06 - Gele Beyi (2:47)
Ketema Makonnen - 07 - Endegena (4:29)
Ketema Makonnen - 08 - Ainama Konjo (4:14)
Ketema Makonnen - 09 - Negireshalehu (3:51)
Ketema Makonnen - 10 - Kibret Alem (2:52)
Ketema Makonnen - 11 - Gussumaye (4:17)
Ketema Makonnen - 12 - Amognegn (4:19)




Monday, April 18, 2016

Abrar Osman - Shama Bel [2014] [eritrea]












Abrar Osman - ኣይውረድ  Aiwured




Abrar Osman - 01 - Shama Bel (6:55)
Abrar Osman - 02 - Mieti Kab Mieti (6:02)
Abrar Osman - 03 - Dig Eritrea (5:45)
Abrar Osman - 04 - Yikdenena (7:41)
Abrar Osman - 05 - Tsebah (6:57)
Abrar Osman - 06 - Ayiwred (8:42)
Abrar Osman - 07 - Halew (7:09)
Abrar Osman - 08 - Baskta Himboba (5:43)



Saturday, April 16, 2016

Ethiocolor - Ethiocolor [2014] [ethiopia]










         Ethiocolor is a cultural traditional band consisting of Kirar (a kind of lyre), Bass Kirar, Washint (flute), Kebero (traditional drums) and Massinqo. This band, led by traditional dancer Melaku Belay, is the cream of the crop of cultural musicians and dancers of the country. All of them share the common priority to represent the traditional styles in an accurate, lively and new way, as well as to spread their music all over the world.

      Since its inception in 2009, word has spread fast for this young group. They have already won a wide audience in Addis Abeba and through the country. Moreover, each member of Ethiocolor possesses extensive national and international experience. Musicians and dancers have collaborated with traditional music projects, but also with jazz, rock, fusion and hip-hop artists. All these experiences separate Ethiocolor from other traditional groups by giving their music a special “color”.








     “Our goal is not just to assemble the best traditional musicians and create another folk ensemble. Our unique vision is to demonstrate that the immense musical heritage of Ethiopia can be performed with a great degree of creativity while still maintaining its identity”, says Melaku Belay, leader and founder of the cultural group.






Ethiocolor Band at Festival EtnoSur (Spain)



Members of the band are: 

Yohannes Aferworq (flute), 
Anteneh Teklemariam (bass kirar), 
Nardos Tasfaw (chant/vocals), 
Dagim (dance), 
Endres Hassen (mesenqo), 
Fasika Hailu (kirar), 
Frehiwot (dance), 
Hawa (chant/vocals), 
Selamnesh Zemene (chant/vocals),
Tesfaye Taye (chant/vocals), 
Melaku Belay (dance), 
Misale Legesse (kebero), 
Zinash Tsegaye (dance).








Ethiocolor - 01 - Ante Gongarie [Selemnesh Zemene] (5:23)
Ethiocolor - 02 - Otai Ma na [Tokato Mena] (6:20)
Ethiocolor - 03 - Helle Loyo Helle loha [Hawa Talen] (4:32)
Ethiocolor - 04 - Mindjarie [Tesfaye Taye] (6:08)
Ethiocolor - 05 - Sekota [Wudie Tesfaw] (3:52)
Ethiocolor - 06 - Keremiela [Tesfaye Taye] (6:13)
Ethiocolor - 07 - Shimunmun [Selemnesh Zemene] (7:30)
Ethiocolor - 08 - Selel Abliyom [Mizan Tesfaye] (7:00)
Ethiocolor - 09 - Ayana Woga [Dereje Zemedu] (6:11)
Ethiocolor - 10 - Mali Malonayie [Tesfaye Taye & Kidane Haile] (5:26)



Friday, April 15, 2016

Tilahun Gessesse - Nuriligne Hiwote (1st album) [1963] [ethiopia]










     The first album of the legendary Ethiopian singer Tilahun Gessesse that was released on 1963 for the first time released again.





Tilahun Gessesse - Ye Hiwote Hiwot




Tilahun Gessesse - 01 - Kerech satasredagn (7:55)
Tilahun Gessesse - 02 - Wubit wubit (7:09)
Tilahun Gessesse - 03 - Nuriligne hiwote (7:21)
Tilahun Gessesse - 04 - Siyagatim desta new (8:57)
Tilahun Gessesse - 05 - Bewubetua amira (5:31)
Tilahun Gessesse - 06 - Etu simish manew (5:20)
Tilahun Gessesse - 07 - Track 7 (9:07)
Tilahun Gessesse - 08 - Yachin lidj atinku (7:08)
Tilahun Gessesse - 09 - Lenat Ethiopia (3:21)



Sun Hop Fat - Sun Hop Fat [EP] [2013] [usa+eth]












          For years Sun Hop Fat has been at the forefront of introducing the unique sounds of Ethiopian Jazz to the masses. The music blends the rhythms of traditional American funk (James Brown, Parliament) and jazz (Yusef Lateef, Miles Davis) with harmonies and melodies from East Africa. The result is an up-tempo groove machine that borrows harmonies from the Middle East. The music focuses primarily on arrangements from the “golden era” of Ethiopian Jazz but includes original compositions as well. This all-star band includes standout musicians from other popular San Francisco Bay Area groups.


           Sun Hop Fat has developed a solid following throughout Northern California by playing a number of clubs and festivals. The ability of the band to captivate sit down jazz crowds as well as steal the spotlight in prime festival slots, encouraging crowds to get up and dance, makes the group flexible in its appeal and garners support from diverse audiences.

      



Sun Hop Fat @ DNA Lounge









Sun Hop Fat - 01 - Dewel (3:20)
Sun Hop Fat - 02 - Kasaleftkut Hulu (9:08)
Sun Hop Fat - 03 - Sabye (6:09)









Anthony Ant - Trumpet 
Dave Eagle - Congas 
Jeremy Greene - Tenor/Alto Saxophone 
Nicholas Gyorkos - Trombone 
Dii Martin - Guitar 
Harrison Murphy - Keyboards  
Christopher Noonan - Baritone Saxophone 
Daniel Silberstein - Percussion 
Randy Schwartz - Drums 
Jesse Sheehan - Tenor Saxophone 
Jesse Toews - Bass 



Sun Hop Fat just released their first album. You can find it here on bandcamp site > Sun Hop Fat debut album