Not an Ethiopiques release as such, but it seems like a good place to discuss it
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 8 June 2017 16:46 (six years ago) link
Bits of it are on volume 4 aren't they or is that all from elsewhere?
There was a review in Uncut this month too.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 8 June 2017 16:51 (six years ago) link
Mulatu Astatke recording in Acton Massachusetts in 2010 while on a fellowship at Harvard doesn't punch many digger checkboxes, but I love this track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF2XlLuZ8xc
― Mungolian Jerryset (bendy), Thursday, 8 June 2017 17:41 (six years ago) link
Good question, but I don't know
― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 June 2017 14:14 (six years ago) link
Planning on seeing this tonight--
http://www.addisinsight.com/2017/05/grammy-nominated-ethiopian-american-singer-wayna-pays-tribute-icon-bezunesh-bekele-us-channel-9-news-concert-washington-dc-friday-june-9th/
After completing a 2-month US Tour singing with American soul and Motown icon, STEVIE WONDER, Wayna traveled to Ethiopia to perform weekly at the Marriott Apartments in Addis Ababa, beginning on New Year’s Eve 2016. It was while there for 2 months that she studied the music and style of Ethiopian soul superstar, Bezunesh Bekele, known as “the Aretha Franklin of Ethiopia.”
― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 June 2017 14:17 (six years ago) link
Disappointing night. Wayna only did 2 or 3 old songs (in part maybe because guitarist Selam W couldn't make it; the guitarist she had instead played schlocky Las Vegas arena rock stylings)
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 10 June 2017 19:40 (six years ago) link
i'm kinda surprised no one's mentioned #9, featuring Alèmayèhu Eshèté. i guess #22 is also dedicated to him but i can't compare the two since i haven't heard it yet. but #9 is fucking sick from beginning to end. his band is really good and funky as hell. i can see why he got james brown comparisons - listen to "Gizew Honeshenna" - the tight, repetitive horn lines sound like that prime period when the JBs could do no wrong, and the drums just barely swing. it's so good. "Mekeyershin Salawq" sounds like an earlier period (the comp cover 1969-74), judging by the sound quality as well as the simpler composition, but it crackles with intensity.
― Karl Malone, Friday, 29 September 2017 16:29 (six years ago) link
I loved #9. I actually am filling out some holes in my Ethiopiques collection and finally picked up #10: Tezeta. So fucking good, love that kind of dark and lovelorn vibe. Oh and Vol. 14 by G. Mekurya is amazing too.
― The Fortnightly Intruder (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 27 November 2017 19:43 (six years ago) link
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/arts/music/hailu-mergia-lala-belu.html
Hailu Mergia, keyboardist, accordionist, taxi cab driver is getting love from NY Times, Bandcamp and elsewhere for his new album
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 February 2018 18:16 (six years ago) link
he rules
Tche Belew is nonstop solid jammage
― brimstead, Friday, 23 February 2018 18:18 (six years ago) link
New compilation out put together by this guy-- Ernesto Chahoud‘s ‘TAITU Soul-fuelled Stompers from 1970s Ethiopia‘,
I found my first Ethiopian record in Beirut at the flea market. It was ‘Zemam Sew Lebene’ by Getatchew Kassa on the yellow-labelled Kaifa, which I later traded with my friend and DJ Partner Jan Weissenfeldt aka J.J. Whitefield, with whom I share what you can call the Ethio fever. The first Ethiopian record that triggered this fever though was ‘Ewnetgna Feker’ by the legendary Ethiopian singer Hirut Bekele. The first time I heard this record I wanted more and decided to go and dig in Ethiopia
https://www.bbemusic.com/feature/digging-ethiopian-45s/
― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 February 2018 21:05 (six years ago) link
Got to give it a full listen
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 27 February 2018 18:48 (six years ago) link
he played in los angeles at a small cafe that sold out
― bald butte (∞), Tuesday, 27 February 2018 18:59 (six years ago) link
Some of those Zanzibara volumes are quite good too seem to come from the same label. Certainly look pretty similar.I think it's volumes 3& 5 that struck me most.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 27 February 2018 22:45 (six years ago) link
Off to hike the Semien Mountains in September with a few days in Addis Ababa before and after. Anyone got any recommendations for the best places to catch live trad music?
― Minister of the Pillow (fionnland), Saturday, 30 June 2018 00:37 (five years ago) link
Send a message to H in Addis, maybe his ilxor email address works (see posts from him upthread)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 17:54 (five years ago) link
Have a look at Visiting Ethiopia, Minister. And definitely get in touch with H in Addis if you can. We caught some live trad music in, I think, Gondar. It was quite an experience - live 'rapping' or at least improvised vocals with quite bawdy lyrics (so I was told). Fantastic, jolly, welcoming atmosphere.
― giraffe, Thursday, 5 July 2018 09:38 (five years ago) link
Sat. July 28 in Washington DC
* Love Wins--A celebration in honor of new Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s historic visit to #WashingtonDC with Ephrem Tamiru, Madingo Afwerk, Sami Berhane, Berehanu Tezera & More backed by Ras Band at Echostage (Ethiopian acts)
The Prime Minister is just meeting with the local Ethiopian community I think (not the us Prez)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 27 July 2018 04:44 (five years ago) link
From Strut, out now:
http://r.k7musicnews.com/7ws5lsp9g7e.gif
We continue our work with the “Godfather Of Ethio Jazz”, Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics ‘Afro Latin Soul’ Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet.
The albums were the first experiments in Astatke’s pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. “I have always felt a deep connection between Latin and African music,” he explains. “I travelled to Cuba and listened to their musicians; the tempo, rhythm and feeling was very similar to different African forms.”
Astatke would start to perfect his Ethio jazz sound on his later album for Worthy in 1972, ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ (STRUT129) but the two volumes of ‘Afro Latin Soul’ stand as important recordings documenting his early career.
‘Afro Latin Soul’ Volumes 1 and 2 come in their full original artwork and are painstakingly remastered by The Carvery. All formats feature personal liner notes by Mulatu Astatke.More info, audio: https://strut.k7store.com/release/104151-mulatu-astatke-his-ethiopian-quintet-afro-latin-soul-volume-1-2
― dow, Friday, 27 July 2018 15:18 (five years ago) link
wonderful, wonderful albums, of course. i have the bare-bones reissue of vol. 1, and it's never let me down. it has one of the best album covers in music (looks like a bridget riley) and makes for the perfect dinner-time music. i've heard vol. 2 but might have to pick it up on wax!
― Karl Malone, Friday, 27 July 2018 15:36 (five years ago) link
Last time I saw Hailu Mergia he had 2 jazz guys from somewhere backing him up and he was good. Last night in DC he had an Ethiopian bassist from DC and a Nigerian (I think) drummer from DC, both who play in DC African and reggae bands. Hailu played more keyboards than he did accordion and melodica. Very good show. What a unique sound. Btw, Hailu stopped being a Dulles Airport cabdriver late last year.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 June 2019 12:38 (four years ago) link
Still kicking myself for missing the chance to see him in NYC recently
― One Eye Open, Monday, 10 June 2019 14:47 (four years ago) link
You’re in luck. He’s gonna be back in Brooklyn July 27
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 June 2019 15:23 (four years ago) link
Actually, the drummer I saw was Ethiopian as well. He and the bassist both play in DC’s Feedel Band.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 June 2019 15:52 (four years ago) link
Anyone ever see 2017 doc “Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul”? It’s showing in DC Tuesday night and might also be available online, but I haven’t checked yet
― curmudgeon, Monday, 21 October 2019 15:33 (four years ago) link
Still haven’t seen above doc, but I just saw “My Beautiful Girma,” about pianist Girma Beyene. A French-made effort that is kinda a work in progress ( missing some subtitles and names of folks talking). Despite flaws it’s often touching and captures Bèyènè’s impressive skills. Beyene as an arranger and composer was involved with more tracks than Astatke. But then when he came to US band with Walias band on tour, he fled the military rule back home and stayed here. His sick wife and his daughter later joined him here. When his wife ( whom he had written tons of songs about) died , he was distraught. He gave up music and just worked at a gas station in DC for 30 years, paying bills to take care of his daughter and himself, but never playing music in dc Ethiopian restaurants. But finally a few years ago he returned to music. Film has him crooning some songs like one of his heroes Sinatra.
Beyene is playing outside DC in Md March 20 and doing a few dates elsewhere I think.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 7 March 2020 13:34 (four years ago) link
it's streaming here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ethiopiques and looks pretty cool. gonna watch this tomorrow as it rains all day, thanks!
― medicate for all (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 7 March 2020 15:50 (four years ago) link
Here’s the trailer for the Girma Beyene onehttps://vimeo.com/214875072
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 7 March 2020 19:00 (four years ago) link
Just heard that Girma Beyene is cancelling US tour because of virus concerns.
Check out those movie docs that include him if you can. Quite a story
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 17:15 (four years ago) link
2017 doc “Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul” leaves a few details out, but it's still a fascinating tale of Ahma Eshete opening a record store and then a record label and releasing songs by Girma Beyene and Mahmoud Ahmed, Then decades later frenchman Francis Falceto hearing a Mahmoud Ahmed record and then seeking him out in Ethiopia. Later after the Derg regime is gone, Falceto returns to Ethiopia finds more records and with Eshete , they find the master tapes and the Ethiopiques series starts.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 March 2020 03:33 (four years ago) link
I know there's also Zanzibara because I have a couple of volumes, did the label put out any other region specific series?Or is it a larger label anyway?
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 25 March 2020 07:12 (four years ago) link
they did a really good series for Angola too. I only have the two vols. of Angola 70s, but it's some of my favorite music
― rob, Wednesday, 25 March 2020 13:04 (four years ago) link
Buda Musique is the label
https://likembe.blogspot.com/2007/08/angola-80s-plus.html
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 March 2020 19:04 (four years ago) link
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 March 2020 19:05 (four years ago) link
since we’re jumping around the continent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfp1XMljLlw
Wallahi Le Zein!! - Wezin, Jakwar And Guitar Boogie From The Islamic Republic Of Mauritania
― budo jeru, Friday, 27 March 2020 02:27 (four years ago) link
My article on Hailu Mergia who was in Walias Band and guitarist Selam Seyoum Woldemariam who was in Roha Band and backed Mahmoud Ahmed. Both live in the Washington DC area now
https://dcist.com/story/20/04/30/two-local-ethiopian-jazz-greats-have-new-albums/
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 April 2020 23:13 (three years ago) link
https://hailumergia.bandcamp.com/album/yene-mircha
― epicenter of the fieri universe (sleeve), Friday, 1 May 2020 01:43 (three years ago) link
whoa you can get the 3 hailu reissues there on CD for $25 total, that rules
― brimstead, Friday, 1 May 2020 18:49 (three years ago) link
Yes!
― curmudgeon, Friday, 1 May 2020 22:34 (three years ago) link
search
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6VLsipKTJc&Ayalew Mesfin – Lene Anchi Bicha Nesh
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 12 May 2020 20:11 (three years ago) link
Nice.
This may have been have been posted already, but it's beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZnmJE1XIoE
― brownie, Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:20 (three years ago) link
This is so great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-IxAhumDw
― brownie, Wednesday, 10 June 2020 19:18 (three years ago) link
Both of those last two tracks you posted are wonderful.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 June 2020 04:12 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N09oe9eK6c
How did I never see this BBC Under African Skies one hour doc about Ethiopia before? Filmed in 1984, it starts with Aster Aweke in DC and then jumps back to Ethiopia and covers traditional music, religious music, and secular . Walias Band, Roha Band, Alemayehu Ashete and more
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 September 2020 02:41 (three years ago) link
xp to that brownie post of the Ali Mohammed Birra song - I listened to that a few times in July after it was posted in June, dug it well enough (as I do most Ethiopiques recommendations), and then sometime a month ago in the early morning hours as I was coming out of a dream and got stuck in that annoying half-dream/half-wake phase where you become aware of the weird quickly-repeating themes/scenes at the end of your dream (or whatever it's like for other people), I kept replaying the horn opening to that "Si Inbanbinsin Warri" song without remembering who it was. There's usually always at least one song from the previous day left rattling around in my subconscious every night, and that was it, but a mystery. I spent a while the next night going through everything new I'd listened to recently, and when I finally eureka'd THAT song, it was such a big ol victory that I did my dishes with the whole album cranked, super into it, a triumph for the spirit of ILM.
along those lines I want to put here the first track from what Stevolende put on the What Are You Listening to? 2020 thread, a newly reissued Sharhabil Ahmed (the Sudanese Freddie King maybe) album that I do believe rules
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElqHJs4O0W4
― the burrito that defined a generation, Saturday, 5 September 2020 03:14 (three years ago) link
I couldn't find a recording date for the music on the Sharhabil Ahmed cd , liner notes refer to a 1963 e.p. with a couple of tracks whose titles may be different spellings of tracks on the cd. But it did really strike me that that cd does sound like an earlier point in the development of music I'm hearing in the Ethiopiques series. I could do with hearing more of the traditional music from the areas they're right next to each other and both will have interacted with the Arab world though their location on the coast of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.Anyway love both.
The French company that put out the Ethiopiques series also put out Zanzibara which I have 3 discs from which are pretty good. Not sure how well known that 2nd series is.
― Stevolende, Saturday, 5 September 2020 09:06 (three years ago) link
https://youtu.be/OQVsVL7DNMo
Listening to Eritrean traditional singer & krar player Amleset Abay . She moved to DC at some point & had a restaurant where she and other musicians performed in early 1980s ( that I sadly didn’t know of at the time)
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 6 September 2020 19:38 (three years ago) link
there was some traditional ethiopian music that they played on that bbc4 programme, on an instrument called a begena, and it sounded unearthly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZBqBnuRlBQ
― koogs, Sunday, 6 September 2020 20:12 (three years ago) link
see also:
https://www.discogs.com/Sosena-Gebre-Eyesus-Sosena-Gebre-Eyesus/release/12947296
― sleeve, Sunday, 6 September 2020 23:16 (three years ago) link