Top Experience

[zaragenca]

Last Saturday I was (called) to perform with an Ethiopian Band which came to Houston for an especial engegement,I have to recognize this unique experience in relation to this music and this musicians.The Music was a unique blending of the multi-color skillfull vocalization which is known in the Indian Music and the brain braking syncopated musical phrases on a 6/8 time signature.The dynamics between the blending Bass-Guitar-Keyboard and the singer was something never witnessed by me in any Salsa,Rock,or Jazz Band,they have a short syncopated musical phrase in a constant response to the lyrics from the singer and interposing others time signature within the 6/8 main pattern.The crowd did stay 'till 4.00 A.M. dancing to the music,both the dancers and the musicians absolutelly enjoyed the interaction which I have with this Ethiopian Band,and to me it was a top experience.They told me that after the show they have to fly to East Africa for another engagement.Folks my respect to this Ethiopian Band,one of my greatest experiences

[zaragenca]

I just found out with the people which put together the performance that the singer was Neway Debebe(considered the voice of silk),and the musicians The Roha Band,becouse the advertisement which I sought in that occasion was in Ethiopian letter.Dr. Zaragemca

[zaragenca]

The EThiopian Madness continue as I was invited to jam for the 24th of Dec.,and New Year Eve's with three Ethiopian singers(one of them,Teshager Yilma),also is a good keyboard player,the others,Atenaw,also plays an instrument called(Masinko),and a female singer.Again 'till 5.00 am.,and everybody happy.Dr. Zaragemca

[zaragenca]

Another opportunity to play with an Ethiopian singer from Washinngto,DC....Tsehay Kassa,...(so far the best female singer an also an excellent dancer).I might start teaching Ethiopian Drumming in my percussion training.Dr. Zaragemca
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[zaragenca]

One more time to perform with this ethiopian performer,Shambel Blayneh,(Dec-24-06).This was a little more challenging becouse he was more focused in folkloric music,(a lot of 5/4,and 6/8 time signature),it was great.Dr. Zaragemca
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[Isaac]

Zaregrnca, Congratulations! That sounds great! You've found a new niche for yourself.
I've also been lucky to find an alternative venue for percussion.
I've been performing with Yemeni musicians in New York
ocaisionally for the past 3 years. They also have a lot of
African originated rhythms with some rapid 6/8 polyrhythms,
and some very wacky indigenous grooves in 7, and a very slow funky 11.
The rhythms are sparse & clean without all the decorative embellishments
of the middle east - it's more solid but assymetric limping groove like
in Ethiopia or Somalia, both of which are only 30 miles across the Red Sea.
In ancient times both sides of the southern Red Sea were one kingdom.
Yemen is also a country that uses bongos, unlike many arabic
countries where the darbuka/doumbek dominates. Other drums they use are similar to
a Tambora, and in the southeast coast they have ensembles of small two headed
drums. ...There are also copper kettle drum ensembles
called "TIBAL" which are an antecedent to the timbales...really interesting stuff and almost familiar to us that have heard
afro-cuban drumming. I can often feel some Bantu influence that has worked its way
up the Swahili Coast and up into the Indian Ocean. The Swahili culture, ( A blend
of Arabic, African and Indian culture) is now 1000 years old, yet relatively unknown
to us here.

ISAAC

[zaragenca]

Welcome Issac,it all happened through several years,but I did trasfer the posting to this forum,for you info...The Yemenis have the same root of Ethiopian,they were part of the Ethiopian Empire when Axon's invated that part of Arabia, from there, is where the vocalization of Ethiopian Singers come from.Dr. Zaragemca