Jonovan Cooper, a native of Windsor, NC USA, started playing music while in Kindergarten where his mother introduced him to the keyboard. Using the keyboard (organ) that she bought for him, he practiced and began making appearances in his local church playing and singing. He later began taking piano lessons and when he became old enough, he joined his school band. That’s when he picked up the saxophone, which became his instrument of choice. Despite an accident in the 8th grade that almost ended his career before it even started, he kept pursuing his dreams of playing professionally. He played throughout high school, studied Jazz at North Carolina Central University, Music Education at Norfolk State University and Saxophone at The American Conservatory. He thus acquired his BM, MM and DMA degrees and even studied Business Administration at American Intercontinental University where he received his MBA.
Jonovan was a member of the US Navy where he was stationed in the Atlantic Fleet Band in Norfolk, VA. There he lived for about six years also playing in local bands including “Right On,” a seventies show band well known throughout the US and countries around the world and his own jazz quintet. He also volunteered in the music ministry at his local church, “Calvary Revival Church” in Norfolk.
Later Jonovan moved to Orangeburg, SC after being hired as an Assistant Professor of Music Industry at South Carolina State University. There he also served as assistant band director and director of the university jazz ensembles (both vocal jazz and instrumental jazz ensembles). He taught there for four years before leaving for Ethiopia in 2008. After his initial move, Jonovan somehow found himself sailing around the world playing on cruise ships for Princess Cruises where he managed to see six of the seven continents within a time span of less than two years.
Jonovan Cooper - Anchihoye For His Majesty
Finally in 2011, Jonovan settled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he taught music at a local international school and at a seminary school in the city. He also kept a heavy performance schedule throughout the city while taking care to learn the local music and giving it its due respect. He was so intrigued by Ethiopian music from the beginning that he made it a point to learn and write new compositions solely around the modes and rhythms of the country. Now Jonovan ministers through music at Beza International Church where he directs the music department. He also is an assistant professor of music at Yared School of Music, Addis Ababa University and teaches at Jazzamba School of Music.
While in Addis Jonovan has performed with several musicians and singers including Mulatu Astatke, Kalkidan Tilahun (Lily), Samuel Tesfamichael, and Dawit Getachew. In spite of all the teaching and music directing, Jonovan still manages to study the music of Ethiopia and has managed to record his first project under his own name, “Suite Abyssinia", which features various rhythms and modes of Ethiopia. He currently lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with his wife and children.
In the words of Jonovan,
“Music should move people spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I choose, therefore, to strive to always affect people in a positive manner acknowledging my spiritual inspirations in my compositions and performances. I dare not claim to have some power to move people, however, people are moved when I perform. That, my friends, is not me but the God in me. My philosophy as a musician is to tell a story that the audience can relate to. Through this philosophy, I am able to be innovative and entertaining simultaneously."
Jonovan Cooper - 01 - ደስታ የኔ ነው (Joy is Mine) (8:42)
Jonovan Cooper - 02 - ተነሱና አመስግኑት (Get Up & Praise Him!) (11:23)
Jonovan Cooper - 03 - ብርሃናዊ መጋርጃ (Curtain of Light) (8:03)
Jonovan Cooper - 04 - 150 በጉራጊኛ… (150 With Guragegna…) (9:36)
Jonovan Cooper - 05 - አንቺሆዬ ለልኡሉ (Anchihoye For His Majesty) (7:27)
Jonovan Cooper - 06 - አማን ይሁን (Let There Be Peace) (6:12)
Jonovan Cooper - 07 - እንቁ የሆነ (Priceless) (6:41)
Jonovan Cooper - 08 - ኢትዮ ገነት (Ethio-Heaven) (9:16)
The Lalibelas are led by bassist and composer Yoseph H. Bekele who arrived in Australia in 2012 from Ethiopia. He has toured internationally with leading East African musicians, including Aster Aweke, Samuel Yirga, Mahmoud Ahmed, and has been a mainstay of the Ethiopian music scene, having played bass and guitar with a huge variety of singers.
The Lalibelas bring together talented Australian and Ethiopian musicians, that perform Yoseph’s Ethio-Jazz and funk compositions. Yoseph developed a strong friendship with Harry James Angus through MAV’s Visible Music Mentoring Program in 2013 and are continuing to collaborate musically.
Guitar - Adam Halliwell
Saxophone - Solomon Sisay
Drums - Zelalem Negatu
Baritone Saxophone - Macks Dowling
Harmonica - Chris Maunders
Bass - Yoseph Hailemariam
Keyboard - Stephen Khlentzos
Trumpet - Harry James Angus
This recording captures the raw sound of The Lalibelas, created in a few short but high-energy hours full of improvisation, twists and turns, and no overdubs or turning back.
The Lalibelas with Harry James Angus - 1. Awdamet (4:40)
The Lalibelas with Harry James Angus - 2. That Song (4:51)
The Lalibelas with Harry James Angus - 3. Atamba Sil (7:26)
The Lalibelas with Harry James Angus - 4. Kendegena (5:48)
The Lalibelas with Harry James Angus - 5. Selam (8:32)
Elias Negash is an accomplished musician who has combined his Native Ethiopian music with his jazz education, and influences from the world music segment. He played through the seventies and became one of the pioneering figures to have brought Reggae and African music to the Bay Area with smash hit groups including Obeah, Axum, Caribbean All Stars and the Rastafarians. After moving to Los Angeles Elias worked on the Royal Princess Cruise ship out of South Hampton England for four months. He has also done sound track for Television Movie in titled Glitz and also preformed on a TV series Murder She Wrote. Elias has also traveled as a Solo pianist and with Magyk Band to Japan.
Elias Negash - Saba (Sheba)
In addition to his role as a musician, Elias dedicates his time in multiple humanitarian efforts such as fundraising HIV Aids research and treatment, building schools and water-well in the rural areas of Ethiopia. Further, Elias is currently the president of Ethiopian Arts forum that strives to accomplish its objectives through the presentation of Ethiopian Music, Dance, Poetry, Drama and Visual Arts to the community.
Elias has put out five solo CDs titled Love, Harrambe (lets pull together), Peace, Feel Like Dancin’ and his last CD titled “JAZZED UP”
Elias Negash - 01 - My Eyes Are Hungry / Aynoche Terabu (6:55)
Elias Negash - 02 - Miss Ethiopia (Ene Negn Bay Manesh) (6:03)
Elias Negash - 03 - Addis Ababa Bete (My Home Addis Ababa) (9:06)
Elias Negash - 04 - Ye Hare Shererit / Tezeta (6:34)
Elias Negash - 05 - Meskerem (Ethiopian New Year Song) (6:21)
Alemseged Kebede (Electric Bass) has influenced most of the new generation of Ethiopian bass players.
He first started playing professionally in the late 1970’s with famous singers such as: Tilahun Gessesse, Menilik Wosenachew , Muluken Melese, Aster Aweke and with many more Ethiopian singers in recent memory.
After moving to Canada and later to the US, he started playing in local restaurants, and clubs. In addition to bass, he also plays drums and keyboards.
He has arranged and produced more than 2 albums of his own and played bass almost on every Ethiopian singers music CD’s in recent times. Traveled allover the world and shared the stage with the great African bands like Manu Dibango, Hugh Masakela, and Ellis Marsalis. Alemseged remains a first call musician for many artists, who need his soulful, funky bass lines to complement their music.
Feedel Band - Meskerem
Feedel band’s original pentatonic melodies are repurposed with mutated instrumentation like 60s and 70s-era Ethiopian grooves played on congas, electric guitar, bass, saxophone, krar, mesenko, piano, organ, trombone and drums.
The members of Feedel Band are all acclaimed musicians in their own right Feedel’s sax player Moges Habtecan be heard performing the funky James Brown Band influenced cut “Muziqawi Silt” on Éthiopiques’ Volume 13 with his ’70s group the Walias Band. Their bass player Alemseged Kebede's groovy bass lines could be found in many of Aster Aweke and Tilahune Gessesse's music. Also in the band is Araya Woldemichael who is the founder of the band, composer, keyboardist and a producer. They will be joined by Mikias Abebayehu on drums/congas, Kaleb Temesgen on electric guitar, Kenneth Joseph on drums, Omar Little on trumpet, Minale Bezuon krar (stringed lyre)/vocal, Setegn Atenaw on mesenko/vocal, Feleke Hailu on alto sax, Thomas Young, Fasil Bezabeh and Almaz Getahun on traditional dances.
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)
Ever since the Ethiopiques CD releases reminded the west about the extraordinary music that could be heard in Addis Ababa in the golden era of the 1960s and early 70s, there has been a flurry of very different fusion bands making use of Ethiopian influences, including this young French five-piece who take their name from an Addis monument. They are good players who mix funky guitar with bass, drums and horns – brass was often a crucial ingredient in the Addis sound – and they have mastered the distinctive, at times Arabic-sounding Ethiopian style. All that's lacking is a sense of energy and fun, especially in their instrumental treatment of a piece by the country's best-loved singer, the late Tlahoun Gèssèssè.
Playing in London for the first time in 15 years Ethio-Jazz sound pioneer Mulatu Astatke, plays an exclusive live date at Cargo. His backing band will be made up of the fantastic Heliocentrics (Now Again / Stones Throw), who also provide a support set on the night. Host and DJ Karen P is also very happy to be joined by long-time friend, Gilles Peterson alongside NYC’s legendary party purveyor Karl Injex.
Born in Ethiopia in 1943, Mulatu Astatke is an innovative multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and originator of the Ethio-Jazz sound. Having studied music in London and then the US, he established himself as a vital vibraphone, conga and percussion player on both sides of the Atlantic before returning to his homeland to introduce Jazz, Soul and Latin to Ethiopia’s native musicians and artists. Included in the now legendary Ethiopiques compilations,
Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers soundtrack, and much sampled by Hip-Hop and Dance producers alike, his sound will be familiar to many even if his name isn’t. These days Mulatu regularly lectures at Harvard and gave a memorable lecture at the Red Bull Music Academy in Toronto last year. Karen P’s Broad Casting is honoured to host Mulatu’s first UK performance in over 15 years.
The Heliocentrics are drummer Malcolm Catto’s collective and are signed to Stones Throw’s sister imprint Now-Again. Having performed and recorded as DJ Shadow’s backing band, they have individually played major parts in bands such as the Soul Destroyers, Quantic Soul Orchestra and The Herbaliser. Malcolm himself released a solo album on Mo Wax and has been sampled by none other than Madlib.
Pigeonholing The Heliocentrics sound is hard. Suffice to say that it takes in all manner of jazz, electronica, psychedelia and world music. Whilst they inhabit the funk universe of James Brown, they also capture some of the disorienting asymmetry of Sun Ra, the cinematic scope of Ennio Morricone and the sublime fusion of David Axelrod.
Nebiyu T. Kebede started playing keyboard at the tender age of 10. Growing up in Italy during the 80s where MTV was just starting to influence young kids, he and his brothers were strongly drawn to the music scene. Once back in Ethiopia, his interest in music further developed when his brothers started playing for their school bands. Looking at the interest that the brothers had in music, except his sister Liya Kebede which was interested in modeling, his parents bought them a keyboard.
With a gift for playing music by ear, he quickly taught himself how to play everyone's favorite tunes, including Tizita and the instrumentals that used to play on Ethiopian Television. Even though his brothers (Samson Kebede and Ermias Kebede) used to play for their high school's band at St. Joseph, he never went the route of the performer but kept his interest at home.
Later on in college he discovered his ability to write melodies while spending long hours at the school's recording studio. To balance off the demanding studying required pursuing a degree in computer science, he spent many hours in the recording studio learning the art of arrangement and the science of recording music as well. Since then, he built his own recording studio and production company called Rhythm And Soul productions - all while maintaining his day job as a software consultant.
After college, the passion for writing continued and Berhane Nesh was the first single released at the Ethiopian Soccer Tournament in 2000. Following the good reception from the single, his first album Mood Swings / Ye Simet Kana was released in 2001. It was sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and sold aboard their flight for 4 years consecutively until the release of the new album Rhythm Of Life / Tiritawhich replaced it.
During the years, his interest in guitar and bass grew as well. From his collaborations with Abera Alemu (guitar) and his brother Ermias Kebede (bass), both from Abogida band, he witnessed the flavor the two instruments added to his Mood Swings album. Since then he has started practicing guitar and bass to a point where he recorded guitar tracks on his new Rhythm of Life album and on other CDs he produced for other artists, like Danny Gofferae and Neway Afe.
He is currently working on his third album as well as producing other artists as his demand for his musical touch grows...
