Girum Gizaw is one of the renowned jazz artists in Ethiopia. After he got his first degree from the music college in Addis, He directly started to play jazz music in different band. He has over ten years of experience in music industry. During those years he has performed with various well known bands in the country such as Blue Notes and Axumite. Girum founded a band called Meleket six years ago. The band has become one of the regular features of Addis’s jazz music scene and offers a brand of “Ethio-Jazz” music that is built upon a seamless fusion of jazz tunes with Southern Ethiopian Ethnic rhythms and musical arrangements.
Girum Gizaw - Color
Girum Gizaw who is one of the well-known young Ethiopian jazz guitarist and composer to release his long awaited album this June titled Kelem or Colors. Growing up in the church Girum got exposed to music at early age.
Having more deep and rich blend of sounds Girum’s playing easily connect whether you are a professional musician or a lay music lover you will clearly notice this distinct sound that separating him from what you are normally used to hearing.
Girum explains this by reveling that his music is not only derived from different techniques and forms of playing taken from what he’s observed from other African sounds but also by extracting the different African dialects and the accentuations of different individual sub divisions of tribes. His musical interpretation of languages of this multi-cultural continent makes his music one of a kind and creates a mystical and unforgettable journey in to the unfamiliar world of creativity and beauty that defines Africa in her wholeness.
It is clear for anyone who listens to the sounds of this young, deeply talented musician that his biggest form of reflection comes from the southern part of Ethiopia. To this he accredits his biggest inspiration “the godfather of Ethio-Jazz” Mulatu Astatke. And the icing on the cake was when Girum had the chance to perform on the same stage with this living legend. He says it’s a moment like no other and one he’ll never forget.133
While it is safe to say that Girum has come a long way with his music in his short years it was no smooth sailing. To him his biggest achievement is his band, Meleket Band. This band has been around for the past 7 years and it is one of the very few all jazz bands in the country. Their style focuses on the different Ethiopian cultural sounds with a fusion of jazz creating an amazing blend of experimental Ethiopian jazz. This is no new thing for Ethiopia but for sure anyone who has ever heard this band perform will attest to their creative interpretation. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that they’ve defiantly redefined the narrow understanding of Ethio-Jazz that people had.
What makes this band special for Girum is that this band came at a crucial time for him. After graduating from Music school, Girum had joined a few pop bands just to make a little extra cash. After that he joined a Jazz band called Blue note yet this band also stopped performing after working together for 2 years. It was hard for Girum to get back up and start yet another band. But it was during this time he got together with two of his close friends Abiy W/mariyam and Mebratu Shewa and created the now amazing band Meleket. And after 7 years of performing together they are still high and running to this day. This is a true, inspirational achievement for not only the members of the band but to all other aspiring musicians.
Girum Gizaw’s life is defiantly like an exhilarating and freeing roller coaster ride. That has its own share of challenges and victories. And Girum has tried very hard to depict all these moments in his upcoming Album.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mulatu Astatkemight be most known to international audiences through his tracks on the excellent Ethiopiques CD anthology series of Ethiopian music. Long before those tracks were compiled for that series, however, he had an American release with this 1972 instrumental album, on which he's billed as"Mulatu of Ethiopia."
Like much of the best of the circa-early-'70s contemporary Ethiopian music on Ethiopiques, it's a fine, at times captivating blend of late-'60s American soul and jazz with Ethiopian music, resulting in something not quite comparable to anything else.
It is undeniably funky, with wah-wah guitar and organ aplenty. There's plenty of contemporary jazz in the arrangements, too, the sax runs sometimes showing the influence of the likes of John Coltrane. Yet there's a melancholy minor cast to the melodies that marks this off as something quite different, and the rhythms likewise have irregularities that are more African than American. The only major strike against the LP is its short running time, with the seven tracks adding up to a mere 26-and-a-half minutes or so.
Dereje Mekonnen began his career in the early 1980s as a keyboardist in the Ibex band, who accompanied the R&B singer Mahmoud Ahmed on three albums. He then founded the formation Dallol, a reggae band with whom he played in Chicago and accompanied Ziggy Marley on his albums Conscious Party (1988) and One Bright Day (1989), which were awarded the Grammy.
After numerous tours with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, he founded the band Gizzae in 1991, with whom he performed primarily in Chicago and the Midwest of the USA. He also worked with Ethiopian musicians such as Tilahun Gessesse and Ephrem Tamiru. He also produced the first album of Ejigayehu Shibabaw, One Ethiopia (1998).
Dereje Mekonnen died at the age of 49.
Dereje DJ Makonnen - Alemen Zorialehu [ደረጄ መኮንን አለምን ዞሪያለሁ]
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 01 - Etitu Beredegn (6:13)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 02 - Yagere Lidje (6:34)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 03 - Selewebetu Sadenk (5:02)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 04 - Atawerulegn Lela (4:33)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 05 - Laley Laley (Tegregna (6:14)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 06 - Temar Lidje (5:49)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 07 -Emu Eadigere (Guragegna) (4:23)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 08 - Besebara Fole (6:23)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 09 - Shilela (3:52)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 10 - Hagerua Wasa Megera (4:43)
Dereje Mekonen with Shebele Band - 11 - Yaleselesea (Oromegna) (4:27)
