Blogtrotters

Showing posts with label vocal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vocal. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Enana Dubale - Cora Cora [2000] [ethiopia]











       Singer Enana Dubale was born in Gonder region. She descended from a family that has a line of famous traditional singer who took music seriously as a profession. Enana joined the proud family tradition early in singing cultural Amharic songs accompanied by a male “Masinko” (a string instrument resembling cello) player. She was doing this entertainment business moving from one refreshment spot to the other. Although the experience is hard there is no doubt that through the process she acquired as excellent voice control develop an ability of having a deeper breath.

       Enana is one of the groups of five singers collectively known by their mothers name “Ergoye” consisting of her their 3 sisters and a brother.

      This group of five came to the notice of the larger due to an album released under the name “Ergoyewoch”.

    She became well known by the public due to the song “Chir Sil Alwedim” and later her other individual album “Cora Cora” was a hit that definatly placed her among the best known young talents.







Enana Dubale - Almaze




            
            Enana Dubale, the member of the famous Ethiopian singers ` The Dubale families`` A.k.a " the five Ergoyes" died in august 2014.  

             Known for her collaboration with Artist Abebe Befekadu in the traditional song “Gomlalaye”, Enana has been receiving treatment at a hospital in Addis before she passed away. Sources said, the late Enana was working on her new album. The 35 years old Enana Dubale released a total of five albums including collaboration with her family members. Enana is survived by her three kids.





Enana Dubale - 01 - Gojam Yegenagnale (4:02)
Enana Dubale - 02 - Kebiraraw Gondere (5:59)
Enana Dubale - 03 - Ahun Ahunima (4:44)
Enana Dubale - 04 - Hedkulih (5:15)
Enana Dubale - 05 - Cora Cora (4:22)
Enana Dubale - 06 - Almaze Atebelegn Dar Dar (4:40)
Enana Dubale - 07 - Atebelegn Dar Dar (5:07)
Enana Dubale - 08 - Hulem Na (6:42)
Enana Dubale - 09 - Sewedih Wededuh (5:14)
Enana Dubale - 10 - Siwer Sew (4:24)
Enana Dubale - 11 - Enes Bagere (5:42)





Thursday, May 11, 2017

Kennedy Mengesha - Kennedy Mengesha [ethiopia]










       Singer Kennedy (Kenedi) Menegesha died at the age of 29 and in his short lived carrier, he left behind 57 songs through 9 cassettes that he presented to the public. Kazzanchis was his last residence before his untimely death.



    The reason he got the name "Kennedy" is that he was born in november 1963, the assassination month and year of J.F.Kennedy (35th President of the United States from January 1961 until he was assassinated in November 1963).

       Kennnedy  Mangesha was one of Ethiopia's top modern artists with a string of hits to his credit. Beautifully backed by the Roha Band with their usual fast paced sax and guitar line up. Great vocals with Kennedy weaving and warbling his way through the octaves. Lovely.





Kennedy Mengesha - Zares (ዛሬስ)




Kennedy Mengesha - 01 - Andd Neng (7:45)
Kennedy Mengesha - 02 - Gella Yennee (4:41)
Kennedy Mengesha - 03 - Akal Deme (6:21)
Kennedy Mengesha - 04 - Be Mela (6:09)
Kennedy Mengesha - 05 - Gela (5:38)
Kennedy Mengesha - 06 - Demam (6:21)
Kennedy Mengesha - 07 - Atkelkluat (5:22)
Kennedy Mengesha - 08 - Yemata Yemata (5:50)
Kennedy Mengesha - 09 - Yefikir Geday (4:20)
Kennedy Mengesha - 10 - Esti Felguat (6:23)
Kennedy Mengesha - 11 - Yaleamalaji (5:12)



Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Hamelmal Abate - Marewa [ethiopia]






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   Hamelmal Abate, born in Harar, Ethiopia, is the queen of Ethiopian music. Her incredible voice and timeless arrangements appeal to traditional and modern tastes alike, which is why her live shows play to sold out crowds around the world.










      

01. Hamelmal Abate - Behig Belulign (5:48)
02. Hamelmal Abate - Ehud Bemaleda (5:26)
03. Hamelmal Abate - Marewa (7:07)
04. Hamelmal Abate - Tew Demam (4:57)
05. Hamelmal Abate - Anten New (7:06)
06. Hamelmal Abate - Leyu Jano (6:23)
07. Hamelmal Abate - Gelaye Zemede (6:27)
08. Hamelmal Abate - Nafikehalehu (7:51)
09. Hamelmal Abate - Manem Sew Alireta (4:18)
10. Hamelmal Abate - Essalihalehu (4:46)




Kuku Sebsebe - Akal Demame [ethiopia[






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01. Kuku Sebsebe - Akal Demame (5:27)
02. Kuku Sebsebe - Fikir Keager Lij New (6:01)
03. Kuku Sebsebe - Yechi Nech Sefere (6:59)
04. Kuku Sebsebe - Demo Demo (5:27)
05. Kuku Sebsebe - Rikogn Seferu (3:51)
06. Kuku Sebsebe - Alem Shega (5:25)
07. Kuku Sebsebe - Bitmetalign Maldeh (4:25)
08. Kuku Sebsebe - Tizita (9:19)
09. Kuku Sebsebe - Fikrihin Anike (5:14)
10. Kuku Sebsebe - Ajire Mewded (5:55)
















Friday, May 5, 2017

Hamelmal Abate - Sedet [2001] [ethiopia]





   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   










 Hamelmal Abate was born in Harar and grew up in eastern Ethiopia a city called Asebe Teferi. She is a strong woman who established herself as the reigning queen of Ethiopian music.

     Her incredible voice and timeless arrangements appeal to traditional and modern tastes alike, which is why her live shows play to sold out crowds allover the world.





Hamelmal Abate - Fekireh Sitenabegn








01. Hamelmal Abate - Sedet (6:54)
02. Hamelmal Abate - Yidagnegn Yaye (5:45)
03. Hamelmal Abate - Wey Sikay (5:57)
04. Hamelmal Abate - Bematebih Tsina (6:41)
05. Hamelmal Abate - Azenkubih (5:11)
06. Hamelmal Abate - Beni (5:55)
07. Hamelmal Abate - Mela Atahu (4:32)
08. Hamelmal Abate - Keyanew (5:11)
09. Hamelmal Abate - Serge (5:43)
10. Hamelmal Abate - Metwaded Ustube (3:58)
11. Hamelmal Abate - Temesgen (5:12)




Thursday, April 27, 2017

Fantahun Shewankochew - Shegneches Semeles [ethiopia]












       Fantahun Shewankochew is a Toronto-based musician (vocalist, song writer, instrumentalist, arranger and composer). His new release Adera (An Undertaking) is a rediscovery of Ethio-jazz, traditional and popular Ethiopian music with a modern twist. Fantahun Shewankochew has crafted an album that harkens back to the golden era of Ethiopian music. 

        Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Fantahun hails from a country with a diverse mix of rich culture, tradition and music. Affectionately called “Fantish” by his friends and fans, Fantahun discovered his talent for music at a very young age when he participated in school performances as a singer, often imitating famous Ethiopian vocalists like Muluken Melese and his idol the late Tilahun Gessesse, undoubtedly the most revered and iconic figure who dominated Ethiopia’s modern music for almost half-a-century. To develop his talent, Fantahun joined the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa, where he studied for four years and graduated in the early 80’s with a diploma in trumpet and the Ethiopian traditional instrument called krar, a harp-like five-or six-string lyre played using the fingers or in combination with a pick. His stint in the school not only provided him with the necessary academic credential and a better understanding of what underlies his music, but also created the historic opportunity of producing the Amharic hit song “Kiraren Biqagnew”, his signature song that introduced him to the public. Fresh from school, he was hired by the renowned Ethiopian National Theatre as a trumpet player and worked as a vocalist on the side with the Mahiran Band that he co-founded. 






Fantahun Shewankochew - Yeberetuma




       He released his first album - Kiraren in 1986 with the Mahiran band. He released three more albums: “Min Yelelesh Ale”, “Shegnichesh Semeles”, and “BeYikirta”. Besides his artistic and administrative responsibilities at the Ethiopian National theatre where he worked for over 20 years in various capacities including Coordinator of the music department, Fantahun formed one more music band –the Medina Band, collaborated with famous musicians and also went on international music tours in Africa, North America, South America, Europe, China and the Middle East.





Fantahun Shewankochew - Kiraren Bikagnew




           While in tour in Paris, France, Fantahun collaborated with the famous and now US-based Ejigayehu Shibabaw, a.k.a. Gigi., and released the “Ethiopian Love Songs” album. His tour with a group of musicians that included four German instrumentalists (Jochen Engel, Patrick Langer, Jörg Pfeil and Michael Ehret) and four Ethiopian vocalists (Abonesh Adnew, Tigist Bekele, Wondwossen Kassa and Binyam Kindya), organized under a band called “Sounds of Saba” offered Fantahun the opportunity to fulfill his dream of introducing Ethiopian music to the rest of the world and also to participate in the group’s 1998 “Tizita” album in which he participated as a vocalist, kirar player and percussionist. Representing Ethiopia with the Cultural Orchestra of the ENT, Fantahun has participated at some of the biggest international musical events including the Ravera festival in Italy and the Houston International festival in Texas, USA. 











         Fantahun made Toronto his new home in 2011 and he has since collaborated with fellow Ethiopian and other Canadian musicians and performed at such venues as the Glenn Gould Studio, Lula Lounge, Harbourfront Centre, the Music Gallery, the Gladstone Hotel and the Luminato Festival. No less important is his contribution to the Ethiopian Community in Toronto. In the same year he arrived in Toronto, for example, he got himself busy serving as artistic director of a spiritual concert & drama organized by fellow artists in collaboration with the choir of the Toronto Membere Birhan Saint Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral to raise fund for the construction of the Church’s new cathedral. The show was a complete sell-out and a phenomenal success.

      Regarding his plans in music, Fantahun has a keen interest to introduce Ethiopian traditional music, which he says has gained more and more popularity in many European countries but not so much here in Canada. In addition to his many personal projects in the pipeline, he plans to introduce to Canadians Ethiopia’s distinct modal system that is pentatonic called qenet, of which there are four main modes: tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoye and other additional modes which are basically variants of the four modes.





Fantahun Shewankochew - 01 - Shegneches Semeles (5:15)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 02 - Zelalemaw neshe (4:33)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 03 - Abete setawekebet (4:51)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 04 - Ezawe betebelesh (4:20)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 05 - Legenet abeba (5:27)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 06 - Menezewa kezeba (4:23)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 07 - Menoeren senoru (5:28)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 08 - Yedemek cewatachen (5:26)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 09 - Yedemekelesh cewatachen (5:34)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 10 - Yeete new (5:31)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 11 - Yefa enawetaw (4:50)




Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Helen Berhe - Tasfelgegnaleh [2010] [ethiopia]




   UPLOAD ON DEMAND   










         Widely Helen Berhe is best known with her single clip Uzaza Allina. As this single clip is a Sudanese (Arabic) beat, the Addis born Ethiopian Helen Berhe is usually believed to be a Sudanese singer.






Helen Berhe - Uzaza Alena




                Recently, with the Ethiopian New Year, Helen Berhe staged out with her new album, known as “Tasfelegnaleh!” (I need you!). In relation with her album, the widely circulated Amharic weakly, “Addis Admass” has conducted a brief interview with her. Here is presented the translation of the interview.

      While others could not achieve wide acceptance and acknowledgement with their consecutive albums, Helen simply proved to be the best, with “Uzaza Allina” that usually viewed via television channels, YouTube and promoted her in a brief moment. The clip “Uzaza Allina” composed both in Arabic and Amharic replaced her natural and legal name Helen Berhe. 

               This young vocalist now came to the stage with her new album “Tasfelegnaleh”, after a three years tiresome preparation. This new album was released with the Ethiopian New Year. Addis Admass had conducted a brief interview with the emerging star on this new album and other related issues.











A.A: While you were a student many people say you were daily in Hager Fiker Theater? Is that true?

Helen: True. Since my childhood I had a special affection to music and dancing. I attend my high school at Menen School. While going and coming to school I visited Hager Fiker and enjoyed the music of the vocalists while they train. Their work got dominance on my soul and sometimes ignored my classes and went to Hager Fiker. One day I revealed my interest and asked the performance trainer to allow me to sing. He gave me the chance and listened my vocal and I song. “Your sound should be tamed” he told me later. He understood that my interest was high and allowed me to observe while the professionals sing and dance. This was a big opportunity to me. I followed my observation happily. 

I spend my schooling time in Hager Fiker, with out the knowledge of my family. Finally at the eve of a new year I was allowed to perform at the stage of Hager Fiker as a dancer.

A.A: Does that mean the Theater house recruited you?

Helen: No, I was not paid. But that was nothing to me. What was important to me was to be seen at the stage of Hager Fiker. Thus usually I continued to train at Hager Fiker. In the meantime some people from aboard came and asked to take me abroad. Even if they were told that I am still an amateur, they insisted and took me to Bahrain. 

A.A: How old were you then? Did your family agreed?

Helen: I was 18. I didn’t complete my high school. I took matriculation after I came back. My family didn’t know what really was happening and could not believe when I informed them that I am leaving to Bahrain. I was determined to leave, however, and could not deter me from leaving and with sorrow let me to go.

A.A: When does that happen? For how long did you stay at Hager Fiker? 

Helen: I went to Bahrain in 2002; I stayed at Hager Fiker not for more than 3 months. 

A.A: What happened in Bahrain, what was the reaction of your audience?

Helen: I staged in a Hotel known as Seychelles. Seychelles and Awol are two famous Hotels managed by a single owner. At a shift of every half month, I was staging in both hotels. There the vocalist and dancer is a single person. While you sing you dance. In their culture presents given to the performer are bunches of flowers. The spectator comes with a bundle of flowers and presents to the performer whom he admires. Finally these bundles of flowers will be collected and sold. We share the income of the sale equally with owner of the hotel. This is an extra income, on top of our salary. Really it was a good income. In their culture giving money to a performer is a taboo. And every spectator comes with bundles of flowers. 






Helen Berhe - Yene Geta





A.A: How much was your salary?

Helen: My salary was 500 USD per month.

A.A: the amateur Helen at Hager Fiker, became professional at Bahrain?

Helen: When I left to Bahrain I was neither a performer nor a vocalist. I had the love and affection, but not actually the desired experience. There in Bahrain, my compatriots like Abnet Agonafir, Minalush Reta and Ismael Idris shaped me to follow the right direction. 

A.A: For how long did you stay in Bahrain? How did you challenge home and family sickness?

Helen: I stayed in Bahrain for 2 years. It was a difficult time. Thought I got the material gains I was not free and left to Dubai.

AA: while you came out to the public with Uzaza Allina did you get the consent of the singer?

Helen: Yes, In Dubai I performed at Palm Hotel. The singer of Uzaza Allina, Nada, came to the hotel while I was performing. I was singing a Sudanese music. After the show she asked me if I am willing to join her at her concert. She had a concert at Sheraton Gera in Dubai. And we discusses over it. On that concert she played Uzaza Allina. I liked it very much. I asked her consent to perform it in Amharic and she was more than willing. I came back to Addis and discussed over it with Amharic lyrics and poem artists. Eyobel Berhanu and Zelalem Terefe wrote the lyrics, poem and the basic lyrics. Wondimeneh Assefa composed it and reached the public.

A.A: Did you expect such an applaud.

Helen: I did not expect such an applaud. Tigist Woyisso came to Dubai and inquired me why I sit ideal while I have such a clip. She came with clip to Addis and handed it to ETV. The clip was arranged in haste while I was busy to go to Dubai and I did not expect such massive applaud. However, I was amazed with the public reaction.

A.A: How much did you benefit from the clip?

Helen: I got a priceless name and fame. The name of the clip /song/ has already replaced my legal and natural name. It helped me as a spring board to jump to the future. It reminded me to be courageous and visional. On top of that, I have got a financial benefit that could be achieved from a single clip. It helped me to perform in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. 










A.A: I heard you are coming up with a new album known “Tasfelegnaleh”. How much are you convinced with the quality of your work?

Helen: As I have told you earlier, I have got a wide applaud from my audiences. This indicates that my audiences expect something better than Uzaza allina. Therefore I have tried to work hard and to come with my best performance.

I have assigned all my time, money, talent and experience to this work. I brushed aside all things and concentrated on this. I am coming to my audience not only with my single talent but the talents and skills of Habtamu Bogale, Eyobel Berhanu, Zelalem Terefe, Tamrat Desta, Abel Mulugeta, Asnake Gebreyes, Alemayehu Demeke, Getish Mamo have accompanied me. Additionally, the best known composer Abegaz kibrework (Shewota) has composed my six beats. On top of that, for the first time in his career he arranged me one lyric. The rest 8 beats are composed by Wondimeneh Assefa who composed Uzaza Allina. Therefore, I think this work will be one of the best. 

A.A: Do you have clips.

Helen: From this album one music is arranged in a clip. The clip known as “Libe”, is directed by Sintayehu Sisay. It is a well arranged clip filmed in Addis Ababa, Ziway and Langano beach.

A.A: Now what do you feel? 

Helen: You see, for me now it is challenging. The work that consumed my time, money and talent with years of preparation is a big deal in my life. My excitement begins when I get the reaction of my audience.

Finally I want to thank to all my friends who granted me their all rounded assistance in all forms. My great gratitude goes to Migbar Mekete to his unlimited support.





Helen Berhe - 01 - Tasfelgegnaleh (4:42)
Helen Berhe - 02 - L'bbe (4:20)
Helen Berhe - 03 - Yene F'kr (5:00)
Helen Berhe - 04 - Zena Zena (5:34)
Helen Berhe - 05 - S'mh Aydellem (3:49)
Helen Berhe - 06 - Semay (5:33)
Helen Berhe - 07 - N'geregn (6:32)
Helen Berhe - 08 - L'hid (5:28)
Helen Berhe - 09 - Title 2 (5:07)
Helen Berhe - 10 - Kedugnam (4:48)
Helen Berhe - 11 - Athun Yelela (6:08)
Helen Berhe - 12 - B'semahakta (5:01)
Helen Berhe - 13 - Attasferaragn (4:24)






Sunday, April 23, 2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Mahmoud Ahmed - Yitbarek [2003] [ethiopia]





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01. Mahmoud Ahmed - Yitbarek (3:48)
02. Mahmoud Ahmed - Almaz (20:34)
03. Mahmoud Ahmed - Fitsum Dink Lij Nesh (5:52)
04. Mahmoud Ahmed - Tseguruna Werdo Werdo (4:44)
05. Mahmoud Ahmed - Kulum (11:03)
06. Mahmoud Ahmed - Lale Lale (5:25)
07. Mahmoud Ahmed - Asheweyna (5:51)
08. Mahmoud Ahmed - Mushiraye (6:54)
09. Mahmoud Ahmed - Hay Loya (3:24)



Sunday, April 16, 2017

Aster Aweke - Kabu [1989] [ethiopia]





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       This Ethiopian beauty's Aster and Kabu albums show why she’s sometimes been dubbed the “African Aretha Franklin.”





                                                     

Aster Aweke - Tchewata






        There’s no mistaking Aster Aweke’s primary influences. Listen, for example, to her early ’90s albums Aster and Kabu, with their Memphis-style horn section, soulful keyboards and crackling drums, and it’s immediately apparent why she’s sometimes been dubbed the “African Aretha Franklin.” Lady Soul, along with the Godfather, James Brown, and vocally versatile jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, loom largely in her roots, her deep R&B/funk groove a reminder that bridges are meant to be crossed. Aweke doesn’t leave the traditional behind by any means; she respects it, she draws from it, but she’s never beholden to it.


       And then there’s that voice, as supple and mystifying an instrument as has ever been. Simultaneously tamed and wild, its flights of fancy are wondrous things. You can’t help but be awed.

      Aweke was born in Gondar, Ethiopia, some time between the late ’50s and 1961, depending on which account you believe. She grew up in the capital city of Addis Ababa and began singing as a teen, working with several groups, most notably the Roha Band. As Ethiopia entered a period of unrest following the death of iconic leader Haile Selassie, Aweke left for the United States. She became increasingly popular within the Ethiopian community in the States, performing in restaurants and clubs, particularly in her adopted home of Washington, D.C., one of the largest Ethiopian expat communities in the country.












    Aweke signed to the small Triple Earth label in 1989, and the two aforementioned albums were then picked up by Columbia Records, which had high hopes for her commercial potential in the West. The sales didn’t pan out but Aweke has continued to record and tour—her 1995 Live In London CD is an excellent primer that displays her charismatic appeal to the fullest.