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Kibrom Birhane: Here And There
BySeveral musical threads entwine throughout these eleven tracks. The three-horn front-line of Randal Fisher (saxophone), Fabio Santana (trombone) and Glenn Holdaway (trumpet) reels off one harmonious unison motif after another. Spare, grooving bass lines (Dave Pinewood on eight tracks, Misgana Mulat on three) and drummer Jake Najor's steady, uncluttered rhythms imbue the music with head-bobbing momentum. Birhane brings a raft of textures to the mix on Wurlitzer, piano, and organ. There is more than a hint of Ray Manzarek/The Doors in his gently swirling electric piano lines, particularly on the trance-like "Weleta" and the dub-reggae-cum-psychedelic trip that is "Mender."
If public radio gave instrumental music half a chance, then the gloriously feel-good "Merkato" or the handsome slow-burner "Ethiopia," which features Birhane on krar (Ethiopian lute), could be huge summer anthems. But Birhane also does down 'n' dirty, notably on the Taureg-like desert blues of "Enate," fueled by chanting vocals, Nadav Peled's gnashing guitar riff and Khalil Cummings' cantering percussion. The tune's rugged, potent vibe is somewhat diluted, however, by an odd-ball telephone conversation tacked on at the end.
Solos are not in short supply, though tend to be brief. Fisher's turn on the infectious "Maleda" is a highlight. Peled's dancing improvisation on "Merkato" is another; more of the talented Israeli guitarist might have injected a bit more bite into the album's just occasionally meandering plateaus. And while Birhane also unfurls some delightfully lyrical solos, teasing and tumbling, it is the grooves, one senses, that are his bag.
With Here And There Birhane brings a contemporary edge to ancient tradition, reboots retro sounds and marries jazz and roots music to intoxicating effect. There is earthy funk in the music's veins, 1960s psychedelia, trance and astral jazz that plots a course between Charles Lloyd and Kamasi Washington. This should be the album that launches Birhane and Ethio-jazz to a wider public.
Track Listing
Merkato; Weleta; Enate; Ethiopia; Mender; Digis; Maleda; Pendulum; Tinish Tinish; Circles; Abetu.
Personnel
Additional Instrumentation
Kirbrom Birhane: Wurlitzer, piano, organ, Talkbox and vocals; Nadav Peled: guitar; Randal Fisher: saxophone; Fabio Santana: trombone; Glenn Holdaway: trumpet; Kahlil Cummings: percussion; Jake Najor: drums; Dave Pinewood: bass (1-7, 11); Misgana Mulat: bass (8-10); Etsegenet Tadesse: vocals (7, 10).
Album information
Title: Here And There | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Flying Carpet Records