ARTISTIC TEAM
Eyuel Mengistu
Producer
Composer - Recording Engineer - Bassist
Eyuel Mengistu is a talented composer, arranger, producer, and music teacher. He has conducted music research, composed and arranged for notable artists, and worked on musical theater productions. Some of his notable works include Qene New Hager (song writing), Sew Atash Woy (rearrangement), Adwas (music composition) and Hamer (author and composition). Eyuel's latest accomplishment is composing music for the international film "Doqa." His passion for exploring indigenous music and diverse world musical cultures is evident in his work. He currently serves as the Head of Yared School of Music and continues to make a significant impact on the music industry with his exceptional talent and contributions.
ጎላ ጎሕ - GOLLA GOH
Lyricist
Golla Goh is a pseudonym used by an artist who has contributed significantly to the writing of most of the lyrics for the record album "Yedega Sew." This artist, known for their accomplished writing skills and extensive knowledge in literature and theater, has made notable contributions to the song's creative and lyrical aspects. Their background in literature and theater likely adds depth and artistic flair to the lyrics they have written.
Yilma Gebreab
Lyricist
Yilma, renowned as the "Golden Pen Writer," is an esteemed Ethiopian songwriter, considered one of the greatest in Ethiopia's music history. Over a career spanning six decades, he penned over 1800 lyrics for more than 180 artists. His influence is far-reaching, as it is challenging to find an artist, arranger, or instrumentalist who hasn't worked on his lyrics. Notable artists who have collaborated with him include Tilahun Gessesse, Aster Aweke, Mulukten Melese, Ephrem Tamiru, Mahamoud Ahmed, Tewodros Tadesse, Bahru Kagne, Maritu Legesse, Neway Debebe, and many others.
Endris Hassen
Masinqo and Toom player
Endris Hassen is a highly skilled masinqo and toom player, dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the rich tradition of Ethiopian music and dance. He has contributed to over two thousand albums and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Mulatu Astatke, Han Bennink, and Paal Nilssen Love. Endris has toured internationally, representing Ethiopian music, and has performed with various musical bands and projects. Some of his notable recordings include "Birabiro," "Dinkinesh Trio Kazanchis + 1LP," "Sheger Trio Kazanchis + @ CD," "StereoGnosis," "Gunfan Yellum with Damakese Musical Project," "Ethio Color," and "Sketches of Ethiopia" with Mulatu Astatke. Endris Hassen's contributions have made a significant impact on Ethiopian music both locally and abroad.
Teferi Assefa
Drummer - Percussionist
Teferi Assefa is an Ethiopian musician, drummer, and percussionist who is constantly researching, learning, and teaching others to become exceptional in the music industry. He studied Drum & Percussion at Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music. Since he was a child, Teferi has always had an intention to find a unique sound in his environment. He would research and learn the depth of our culture and pick elements to work on specific sounds on his drum. Teferi is currently leading Negarit Band at Fendika Cultural Center. He is the drummer and leader of the band which performs every Friday. He is also teaching at Addis Ababa University Yared School of Music. He is also a drummer and percussionist teacher at EECMY School of Music and Media.
Jose Braima Galissa
Kora player
José Braima Galissá, teacher and griot master of the Kora, an African 22-string instrument, was born in Guinea-Bissau in 1964 into a family of griots from the Mandinga culture, who have been playing Kora for over 600 years. He began to learn Kora in the mid-1970s, at the hands of his father. Today he is considered one of the best musicians representing the Mandinga culture, for his excellent qualities as an expert Kora player. He was responsible and composer of the National Ballet of Guinea-Bissau and teacher of Kora at the José Carlos Schwarz National School of Music for 11 years. He participated in concerts organized by EXPO98, and Porto 2001, and in records by João Afonso, Amélia Muje, Herménio Meno, in the collection "Mon na mon", Blasted Mechanism, Chac, Sara Tavares, and other Guinean artists.
Kalle Moberg
Accordionist
Instrumentalist, improviser and composer Kalle Moberg has excelled as one of Norway’s most promising musicians. He performs widely as a soloist and chamber musician in classical and contemporary music and as an improviser ranging from freely improvised music to jazz and has been touring in America, Mexico, Japan and Europe. Moberg held the position as kapellmeister at the Norwegian Royal Palace (2015-2017). He is now reaping recognition for his technique-centric work expanding upon the preexisting perceived acoustic possibilities of the accordion - especially his work with extreme bending techniques, multi-phonics and microtonality.
Bas Gaakeer
Guitarist
Bas Gaakeer is a guitar player based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He started playing guitar at the age of nine. After successfully finishing his studies in Classical Guitar at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2015, Bas established himself as a guitar player in several musical styles. Arabic music and culture has had a strong influence on his musical career as he has been working regularly in the Middle East since he was a teenager. Besides working as a performing/recording guitar player Bas works as a composer and musical leader in several interdisciplinary projects. He aspires to be a connector of musical worlds, using the guitar as a tool to connect and exchange musical backgrounds.
Dr. Ezra Abate
Pianist/Keyboardist
Ezra Abate is an accomplished Ethiopian pianist, composer, and music teacher at AAU's Yared School of Music. He currently serves as the Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts and specializes in piano and composition, curriculum and instruction, and peace and security. His research focuses on music education and conflict transformation, and he has presented papers at various international conferences. Abate has composed several orchestral and pop-jazz pieces, musical dramas, and choir compositions. He has received numerous awards, including a lifetime artistic contribution award from the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and a certificate from the Polish Foreign Minister.
Tasew Wendem
Washint Player
Tasew Wendeme is a talented musician from Ethiopia who began playing the washint at the age of seven and has since become a skilled player and singer. Over the years, he has performed with many well-known musicians, both locally and internationally, and has been a leading member of various cultural music centers and bands. Tasew is also the founder of the Moseb Cultural Music Group and produced their first album, "Timona," in 2016. He is passionate about promoting Ethiopia's rich music and culture and is actively working to create new opportunities for young professionals in the country's music industry.
Hanne De Backer
Baritone saxphoinst
Hanne De Backer is an Antwerp based saxophone player and theater performer. After graduating from the famous Herman Teirlinck Institute in Antwerp as an actress in 2010, she discovered the baritone saxophone and found herself really pulled towards the instrument. Hanne wants to exploit the impact of music and performance without being limited by boundaries or styles. In 2017 she released her debut LP “Gabbro” together with longtime collaborator Marc De Maeseneer. They played there release-concert in the Oorstof-series of Sound in Motion and went on tour through Finland, Lettland, Poland, Germany and Belgium. .
Signe Emmeluth
Alto Saxophonist
Signe Emmeluth is a Danish saxophonist and composer, living in Oslo. In recent years, Signe has distinguished herself as a strong voice on the stage for improvised music through her playing and composing. In addition to her own quartet Emmeluth's Amoeba, she has a central role in the bands Mudskipper (quartet with Paal Nilssen-Love, Hanne De Backer and Terrie Ex) and OWL (duo with Karl Bjorå). In 2021 Signe received SpareBank 1 SMN JazZtipendiat. She has also collaborated with artists such as Mats Gustafsson, Pascal Niggenkemper, John Edwards and Mette Rasmussen. In addition, she was involved in the organizational work with All Ears, Improverk and in PØKK, concert series for improvised music.
Aklilu Zewdie
Tenor and Alto saxophonist
Aklilu Zewdie is an Ethiopian saxophonist who spent more than 25 years of teaching, performing, and composing music. He was the director of Yared School of Music and currently teaching music for under- and post graduate programs of the school. He is one of the founder and sax player of Medina’s Band, which was popular during 80’s and 90’s. He has served for many years as a composer and conductor of Variety Orchestra at the Ethiopian national Theatre. He also rearranged musics for a symphony and big band orchestras. Aklilu made a musical meeting with a french music group called Ayanna Badume’s Band and performed together with them. He is very well known for his recording with Teddy Afro on the song "Tekeyimeshalew".
ABA JORGA MESFINE
Tenor saxophonist
Jorga Mesfin is a talented Ethiopian saxophonist who has made a significant impact on the Ethiopian and world music scene. As a self-taught musician, he draws inspiration from the spirit and innovation of jazz as well as the diverse sounds of Ethiopian music. Jorga's career as a professional performer began at the age of 17 and he has collaborated with notable artists such as Tsegaye Gebremedhin, Carolyn Beard Withlow, Vijay Iyer, Kirk Whalum, and Mulatu Astatke, among others. He is the founder of the Ethio-jazz group Wudasse and composed the score for Haile Gerima's film "Teza," earning him awards for Best Music Selection at the Carthage Film Festival and Best Composer at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Dr. Will Porter
Trombonist
Originally from the United Kingdom, Dr. Will Porter is an Assistant Professor of Trombone at Ithaca College. Previous teaching engagements have included Eastern Illinois University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Will has performed with orchestras throughout Europe, South America and North America, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. From 2009-2014, Will held the position of Co-Principal Trombone with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago, in Chile.
Ricardo J. Martins
Portuguese Guitarist
Although mostly dedicated to accompany Fado, Ricardo sees in Portuguese Guitar an enormous capacity as a solo instrument, playing both the Lisbon Guitar and the Coimbra Guitar. He recorded in the year 2014 his first instrumental Portuguese Guitar album called “Ricardo J. Martins“, essentially made of adaptations of themes outside the musical environment of Portuguese Guitar and versions of typical songs of the instrument with own arrangements. From this disc stands out the original theme and single “Danças na Eira”. He had the privilege of playing with great names of our musical panorama as is the case of Viviane (Entre Aspas), Marco Rodrigues, Pedro Moutinho, Diamantina, Filipa Cardoso, Ana Sofia Varela, Cremilda Medina, Ilda Maria, Pedro Jóia and Alexandra.
The Gamos
Accapella
The Gamo singers are women in their 50’s and 60’s. They are known for their polyphonic musical singing called Edho. Often known as gifted weavers, and hardworking gatherers and carriers of wood, they are also amazingly creative musicians, with singing as an important part of their culture originated from the south of Ethiopia. They are examples of human strength and joyfulness, and beautiful representatives of Ethiopia.
Biniam Birhanu
GUITARIST
Biniam is a highly accomplished guitarist and a dedicated personal guitar trainer. He pursued his music education at the Seminary School of Jazz and has since made significant contributions to guitar instruction. In 2005 E.C., he developed an innovative guitar teaching software called "The Eight Scales" in Amharic language. Additionally, Biniam published a guitar teaching book titled "The Guitar Sound" in 2010 E.C. Beyond teaching, Biniam is an active performer, frequently captivating audiences with his live music at various events and gigs. His reputation as a musician in Addis Ababa is unparalleled, as he has collaborated with countless artists in the local music scene. Currently, Biniam is working on his upcoming guitar teaching book titled "Music by Guitar."
Musa Mati
GUITARIST
Musa Mati is a renowned guitarist who studied music at the Yared School of Music. He is highly regarded for his music arrangements for various prominent artists in the Ethiopian music scene. Known for his innovative approach, Musa constantly seeks to create a distinctive sound and style in his arrangements. Some of his successful works include the arrangements for Abels' "Lib Be Arba Amet" and Saron's "Min Largilih." Additionally, Musa is an accomplished lyricist and film score arranger.
