Blogtrotters

Showing posts with label jazz funk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jazz funk. Show all posts

Monday, March 16, 2015

Mister Ott - Live at Bohemian Grove [2012] [aus+eth]




       Mister Ott is the alter ego of Matt Ottignon, Sydney based Kiwi saxophonist. In particular, Matt has a keen interest and involvement with the very unique sounds of Ethiopian music. It’s that unique mixture of traditional music with jazz and soul from the 50's and 60's that is the inspiration for Mister Ott - music that washes away the dust of everyday life and gives the soul room to breathe.







MISTER OTT - Gonder [composed by Matthew Ottignon]
     Live at Venue 505, 15th June 2013




Recorded live on Sep 2nd, 2012, at Sydney's underground Sunday music series at Bohemian Grove. 

This was the band's first performance, and features all covers of Ethiopian music. The band name became Mister Ott some time after the artwork was created for this recording.

released 09 February 2012 


01 - Mister Ott - Akale Wube (Getatchew Mekuria) (5:32)
02 - Mister Ott - Yekermo Set (Mulatu Astatke) (7:27)
03 - Mister Ott - Ye Woyen Haregitu (Alemayehu Eshete) (6:13)
04 - Mister Ott - Chik Chikka (Mulatu Astatke) (7:22)
05 - Mister Ott - Kulun Mankwalesh (Mulatu Astatke) (3:53)
06 - Mister Ott - Yekatit (Mulatu Astatke) (8:40)
07 - Mister Ott - Eywat Sentenafegagn (Getatchew Mekuria) (5:12)
08 - Mister Ott - Muziqawi Silt (Wallias Band) (5:42)




Matt Ottignon - tenor sax, flute 
Ellen Kirkwood - trumpet 
Mick Stuart - guitar 
Luke Dubber - keys 
Eden Ottignon - bass 
Dan Kenedy - drums 

Engineer - Mick Stuart (on his portable recording rig) 



Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Mulatu Astatke - Mochilla presents timeless Mulatu Astatke [2010] [ethiopia]



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Mulatu Astatke - Timeless (Live)


       Ethiopian composer/arranger/vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke reached a lot of Western ears in the ‘90s when the fourth installment of the Ethiopiques series featured his work. That album presented innovative recordings from the ‘60s and ‘70s that fused jazz and Ethiopian sounds. Astatke got more exposure when some of his pieces were used in the soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers. 


       

       In 2009, Astatke and a fine group of American musicians performed at California State University, Los Angeles, and Timeless captures the concert. Featured players include woodwinds wizard Benny Maupin, former McCoy Tyner sideman Azar Lawrence on tenor sax, and trombonist and Tribe veteran Phil Ranelin. A number of younger players also make contributions, including keyboardist Brandon Coleman, violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and trumpeter Todd Simon, who displays a nice feel for Ethiopian scales. 


     Astatke’s vibraphone solos are always welcome, and if you had to pick a standout track it would be “Mulatu,” where the band finds a deep groove.






1. Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo Sèw (7:32)
2. Mulatu Astatke - The Radcliffe (8:29)
3. Mulatu Astatke - I Faram Gami (7:45)
4. Mulatu Astatke - Yèkatit (7:15)
5. Mulatu Astatke - Kasaléfkut Hulu (8:05)
6. Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu (7:10)
7. Mulatu Astatke - Munayé (7:47)
8. Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta (5:24)
9. Mulatu Astatke - Ebo Lala (6:31)





Bass Clarinet, Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Bennie Maupin
Drums – Tony Austin
Drums [Hand], Percussion – Munyungo Jackson
Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Trevor Ware
Electric Guitar – Dan Ubick
Electric Piano, Piano, Organ – Brandon Coleman
Percussion – Alan Lightner
Tenor Saxophone – Azar Lawrence
Trombone – Joel Yennior, Phil Ranelin
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Todd Simon
Viola – Miguel Atwood-Ferguson

Vibraphone, Percussion – Mulatu Astatke



Monday, October 6, 2014

Tezeta Band - Tezeta Band EP [usa] [2010]


                                 
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           Tezeta Band is the sound of memory, of nostalgia, of sweaty soulful dance music, part jazz, part motown, part Ethiopian folk music, inspired by and arranged from the Golden Age of Ethiopian music, the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Imagine James Brown, Elvis Presley, and John Coltrane merged into one sound, one source, melting together in the clubs and lounges of Ethiopia.





      Tezeta Band is a musical reunion of The Five Fingers of Funk (Talbott Guthrie-drums, Ted Hille - Saxophone, Tim Cook - Keyboards, Curt Bieker -  Trombone & Josh Prewitt - Trumpet) formed in 1992 with rapper Pete Miser. For nearly ten years, the Five Fingers were the premier 100% Live Northwest Hip-Hop experience that rocked stages from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine and opened for such acts as De La Soul, The Roots, Maceo Parker, Fishbone,Run DMC, Digital Underground, Bootsy Collins and The Greyboy Allstars




      Now, with the help of Brent Martens (From Asylum Street Spankers and currently the Escapists, Royal Motel Orchestra, and Duo Royale) and Bassist/Composer John Teagle. In 2006 the idea for the band came after a few members came across the Ethiopiques CD series and were inspired to put together a weekly session based on this music. Quickly realizing that they were on to a new challenge that was both exciting and unique, the band was formed and has evolved since.






Tuesday, September 9, 2014

The Black Jesus Experience - Arada/Brand New World [2011] [EP] [australia+ethiopia]






The Black Jesus Experience - Arada



       Black Jesus Experience is an 8-10 piece band playing an irresistibly danceable blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st century groove. With backgrounds 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 sellout shows with Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke in Europe and Australia (an association which won BJX and Mulatu "The Age Best Tour" award) Glastonbury, Big Chill, City Of London Festival, WOMADdelaide, the Big Day Out, Golden Plains and Melbourne International Jazz Festival and supporting Tony Allen among 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.


   Discography :    

Dark Light (2009)
Yeluinta (2010)
Migration (2014)


    band members are :    

Enushu Taye - vocals
Peter Harper - tenor saxophone, composer
Ian Dixon - trumpet, flugelhorn, composer
Liam Monkhouse - mc/vocal
Chris Frangou - electric bass
Matt Head - drums
Hue Blanes - keyboards
Nashua Lee - electric guitar



                 listen Black Jesus Experience live stream here                

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Either/Orchestra - More beautiful than death [2000] [usa]




Either/Orchestra with Tsedenia Markos live in Ethiopia - Bati


      The Either/Orchestra (E/O) is a jazz group formed by Russ Gershon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, in 1985. 

      E/O is configured as a "small big band", with three saxes, two trumpets and one or two trombones. E/O's is characterized by a heavier and more orchestrated sound than that of a smaller jazz combo, but remains more streamlined and improvisation-oriented than most big bands.





       With a small but significant change of instrumentation - add congas/percussion, remove one trombone - and major changes in personnel - only bandleader Russ Gershon and veterans Tom Halter and Charlie Kohlhase are holdovers from their last album - the E/O has made its most sensual, rhythm-heavy recording ever.

       Famous for the breadth of its musical vision, the E/O rides the powerful drums of Harvey Wirht, from Suriname, and the exciting congas of Vicente Lebron, from the Dominican Republic, on a trip from North American jazz/blues/funk, to Latin jazz, and Township jazz/calypso, to Ethiopian pop tunes from the '70s. All of these grooves are incorporated into original compositions by Gershon, except for the three Ethiopian tunes which have been arranged by the band.

     The result is an intoxicating brew, forceful and seductive, with memorable melodies, superb ensemble playing and some of the best soloing ever heard in the long history of the Either/Orchestra. This is without a doubt the most accessible E/O album ever. The groove emphasis brings the E/O's tradition of challenging writing and cutting edge playing into a form that will be enjoyed by fans of African music, Latin music, even reggae and jam bands, without losing the core of E/O fans and jazz critics.


Tom Halter - trumpet, flugelhorn
Colin Fisher - trumpet, flugelhorn
Joel Yennior - trombone
Jaleel Shaw - alto saxophone
Russ Gershon - tenor, soprano saxophones
Charlie Kohlhase - baritone saxophone
Dan Kaufman - Steinway, Rhodes and Wurlitzer pianos, Hammond B-3
Rick McLaughlin - bass
Harvey Wirht - drums
Vicente Lebron - congas, bongos, percussion





1. Amiak Abet Abet (Teshome Sissay; arr. by E/O; 10:03)
2. Number Three (10:20)
3. More Beautiful than Death (10:46)
4. Musicawi Silt (Girma Beyene; arr. by E/O; 6:21)
5. Breaktime for Dougo (8:35)
6. All Those SOBs (8:58)
7. Slow Mambo for J.J. (4:53)
8. Feker Aydelmwey (Ayalew Mesfin; arr. by E/O; 7:09)
9. The Eighth Wonder (6:54)





       The E/O began performing original arrangements of Ethiopian songs, inspired by a compilation called Ethiopian Groove: the Golden 70s

    In 2000, after three of these songs appeared on the album More Beautiful than Death, Francis Falceto, the producer of Ethiopian Groove, contacted Gershon and eventually arranged an invitation for the E/O to play at the Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa in 2004. Along with Indo-British singer Susheela Raman the same year, the E/O was the first non-Ethiopian artist to appear in the festival, and was the first US big band to appear in Ethiopia since Duke Ellington's in 1973. 

     Their concert at the festival was recorded and ultimately appeared in Falceto's Ethiopiques series on the French Buda Musique label. 

   Five Ethiopian guests appear on the recording: Mulatu Astatke, Getatchew Mekurya, Tsedenia Markos, Bahta Hewet and Michael Belayneh. This tour and recording have led to an ongoing collaboration with Astatke, the primary founder of Ethiopian jazz, concerts with Ethiopian expatriates singer Hana Shenkute, krar player Minale Dagnew, masinko player Setegn Atanaw, and the great Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed with whom E/O released a DVD in 2007. 

    Mahmoud Ahmed and fellow legendary Ethiopian singer Alemayehu Eshete played Lincoln Center Out of Doors in 2008 backed by E/O. 

    The group debuted a collaboration with vocalist Teshome Mitiku in the summer of 2010, including a headlining appearance at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Nubian Ark - 3 demo tracks [2010] [usa+ethiopia]



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         Nubian Ark is tremendously experimental and has taken the fusion of jazz and Ethiopian music to new levels.


1. Nubian Ark - Diminished Heaven (4:31)
2. Nubian Ark - Mamite (8:15)
3. Nubian Ark - Nine Lives (7:32)





      A tight 7 piece jazz-funk combo playing a mixture of original compositions mixed with excursions intoEthiopian standards, Nubian Ark is an exciting new addition to the Addis musical scene. 

        Driven by bass, drums and keyboards with the three piece horn section (2 sax and trombone) and percussion adding punch and color, Nubian Ark delivers an exciting live show.

musicians : 

Henock Temesgen (bass)
Nati Tessema (drums)
Kirubel Tesfaye (keyboards)
Yishak Dawit (trombone)
Misale Legesse (percussion)
Johnny Aklilu (sax)

featuring Jorga Mesfin (sax)


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Dur Dur - Africa [somalia] [199?]




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originally posted here : Likembe





Dur Dur – Somali Music from the 1980’s

       This is a cassette of Dur Dur, a group from Somalia which was very popular in the 1980’s. When I first listened to it I was amazed by the sound which resembled very much 1970’s funk music. 

       John at Likembe writes about similar experiences. He presents also a lot of more information about Dur Dur in a another posting.




       Because of the civil war in Somalia the group had moved to Ethiopia where they published this cassette in the early 1990’s. As it was the practice at that time the cassette was published by a music shop. In this case it is a shop called Elham Video Electronics. The shop has two branches one in Negele, Borana and one in Addis Ababa. The first branch in Negele seems to be the main one. It is located in an area in southern Ethiopia, which is close to the Ogaden, i.e. the Somali region of Ethiopia.

THE MUSICIANS


       On the cover there are photos of four members of the group written in Latin and Ethiopic script: Zahra,Muktar, Abdinur and Qomal (or Komal). 
As with a lot of Somalian musicians and artists it is difficult to obtain mor e information about them. Therefor I would be happy for further information and comments about the group, its members and its music.

THE SONGS


       The cassette contains twelve songs, six on each side. The titles are given in Latin script on the inside, but listening to the songs it seems that the order of the titles is not correct. Therefore I changed the order of the lables of the 3., 4. and 5. song on the first, and of the 10. and 11. song on the second side. There may be further mistakes in the labeling.


01. Dur Dur - Shered (5:35)

02. Dur Dur - Abasho (5:32)

03. Dur Dur - Shelede (3:47)
04. Dur Dur - Tarik (4:26)
05. Dur Dur - Africa (6:00)
06. Dur Dur - African Music (4:49)
07. Dur Dur - Ethiopian Girl (4:44)
08. Dur Dur - Goromphmca (5:56)
09. Dur Dur - Ledenay (5:08)
10. Dur Dur - Hak Somalk Dumark (3:36)
11. Dur Dur - Kennea (5:20)
12. Dur Dur - Absho (5:41)


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

v.a. - New Ethio Jazz [dbl cd] [2013]


Merry Christmas to all my friends and blog readers. 

Consider this double compilation cd as Christmas present!
I made it in an effort to introduce recent ethiopian jazz & grooves to wider public.

Enjoy music and send some comments.



   cd 1   

01. Arat Kilo - Aykedashem Lebe (3:57)
02. Tezeta Band - Tey Geryeleshem (Forget It, Don't Worry) (2:55)
03. The Budos Band - Aynotchesh Yererfu (3:50)
04. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Le Le Le (6:26)
05. Le Tigre (des Platanes) & Etenesh Wassie - Ney-Ney Weleba (4:27)
06. Samuel Yirga - Tiwista (Tinish Mix) (5:57)
07. JAzmaris - Far From Ambasel (6:11)
08. Yared Tefera - Uuta Ayaskefam ° (6:05)
09. Akale Wube - Ragale (5:09)
10. Arat Kilo - Get a Chew (4:48)
11. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Selam Temagwet (5:36)
12. Ethioda - En plein dans le Nil (4:56)
13. Wudasse - Aba Gerima [Morning Song] (8:20)



   cd 2   


01. Skeletons - Mulatu (2:55)
02. The Shaolin Afronauts - Amhara (5:17)
03. Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Ethio (3:41)
04. Tezeta Band - Hametegnaw (5:18)
05. Ukandanz - Belomi Benna (3:09)
06. Arat Kilo - Lonmewo Lalie feat. Mimi (3:23)
07. Badume's Band & Selamnesh Zemene - Korahu (5:54)
08. Debo Band - Mignoten Man Yawkal (4:06)
09. uKanDanz & Asnake Guebreyes - Aykedeshem Lebe (6:34)
10. Jungle by Night - Ethiopeno (3:28)
11. JAzmaris - Aha Gedawo (6:06)
12. Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Friends - Aha Gedawo (5:03)
13. Trio Kazanchis - Ende eyerusalem (5:10)




Monday, October 14, 2013

v.a. - Assiyo Bellema - Golden Years of Modern Ethiopian Music [2013]




             All hits compilation of late 1960s to early 1970s Ethiopian soul and R 'n' B. Very intensely groove oriented material by some of Ethiopia's top musicians. Includes songs by Mulatu Astatke, Seyfou Yohannes, Ayelew Mesfin, Getatchew Kassa, and the mighty Abbebe Tessemma. Nonstop party. Old school 'tip on' sleeve.




         Class side of Ethio R&B hits dating to late ’60s and early ’70s. It comes out of the blocks hard with Astatke’s Assiyo Bellema and Tessemma’s Ashasha Beyew both boasting irresistible polyrhythmic grooves, the former bouncing along with queasy steel drum details, while the latter is driven by organ chords and lovely bright brass.

       While other highlights come courtesy of Yohannes’ lounge jazz-inflected Yekermo Sew with smooth sax, bubbling guitar work and a fascinating cyclic piano line, Mesfin’s bouncy funk-soaked Lene Antchi Bitcha Nesh and the irresistible polyrhythmic call-and-response simplicity of Damtew Ayele’s ‘Wefe Yelala’, the whole LP is a delight, although with these warm exotic shuffle grooves it feels like more of a soiree than a party.


01. Mulatu Astatque - Assiyo Bellema (2:54)
02. Abbebe Tessemma - Ashasha Beyew (3:36)
03. Getatchew Kassa & Soul Ekos Band - Bey Lesnabetesh (4:03)
04. Seyfou Yohannes - Yekermo Sew (4:18)
05. Abbebe Tessemma - Gebru Guratch Gute (2:45)
06. Samuel Belay - Lebene Sheweshew (3:12)
07. Seyfou Yohannes - Metche Dershe (3:58)
08. Ayalew Mesfin - Lene Antchi Bitcha Nesh (4:00)
09. Damtew Ayele - Wefe Yelala (2:57)
10. Tamrat Molla & Venus Band - Ber Anbar Seberelewo (3:26)



Thursday, September 26, 2013

Walias Band - [1981] - The Best Of Walias [ethiopia]



         Walias Band (sometimes spelled Wallias Band) were an Ethiopian Jazz and funk band active from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. Formed by members of the Venus Band, Walias backed up many prominent singers with a hard polyrhythmic funk sound influenced by western artists like King Curtis, Junior Walker and Maceo Parker. 

      In 1977 they recorded one of the few albums of Ethiopian instrumental music (Hailu Mergia and The Walias Band – Tche Belew) in collaboration with vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke, whose role as a bandleader and composer was also a major influence on Ethiopian popular music.



     In 1981 Walias became the first modern Ethiopian band to travel to the United States, playing on a tour with singer Mahmoud Ahmed primarily to audiences of Ethiopian refugees.

     Four members Girma Bèyènè, Mogès Habté, Mèlakè Gèbrè and Haylu Mergia stayed in the U.S. and formed a new group called Zula Band in favor of returning to live in Ethiopia under its dictatorship.

     Mergia took work in Washington DC driving a taxi cab and released solo cassette tapes of traditional Ethiopian music played on analog synthesizer, electric piano and accordion.The remaining members, Yohannes Tèkola and Tèmarè Harègou, continued to play together under the Derg dictatorship for another decade.

    In the late 1990s Walias Band found a wider audience in the west when the French label Buda Records reissued much of the group's music on the Ethiopiques series of compact discs. Their instrumental, "Musicawi Silt", became a popular dance number and has been covered by a number of artists.


     The Walias Band's name derives from the walia ibex, an endangered species of the Capra genus native to the mountains of Ethiopia. They share no members with the similarly named Ibex Band who also backed up Mahmoud Ahmed during the same epoch.




1.Walias Band - Malada                        [Woubishet Fisseha]    (5:11)
2.Walias Band - Kalatashew Akal                                                (2:35)
3.Walias Band - Tizzita                         [Getachew Kassa]      (10:25)
4.Walias Band - Ashkaru                        [Mahmoud Ahmed]     (3:06)
5.Walias Band - Ye Kereme Fikir            [Getachew Kassa]     (4:47)
6.Walias Band - Inchi Libbe Echo Naw  [Mahmoud Ahmed]    (6:32)
7.Walias Band - Eyuwat Sitnafikagn                                           (3:41)
8.Walias Band - Wa Hoyye                  [Woubishet Fisseha]     (5:13)

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Steps Ahead @ Glatt & Verkehrt [Krems, Austria - 30.7.2011]


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1. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - I - Dewel (13:07)
2. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - II - Yekermo Sew (11:46)
3. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - III - Netsanet (8:17)
4. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - IV - Chik Chikka (19:06)
5. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - V - Motherland (12:05)
6. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - VI - The Way To Nice (7:04)
7. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - VII - Yegelle Tezeta (5:07)
8. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - VIII - Yekatit (5:42)
9. Mulatu Astatke - Krems 30.07.2011 - IX - Mulatu (12:18)





Mulatu ASTATKE | vibraphone, congas, piano; 
Shabaka HUTCHINGS | saxophone; 
Byron WALLEN | trumpet; 
Richard Olatunde BAKER | percussion; 
Tom SKINNER | drums; 
John EDWARD | double bass; 
Alexander HAWKINS | keyboards; 
Danny KEANE | cello