Daa Dee

Ethiopian singer Minyeshu Kifle Tedla amalgamates Western instrumentation into a mix of modern and traditional Ethiopian musical styles. Based in the Netherlands, she has performed with the jazz orchestra Metropole Orkest.

Minyeshu is both composer and co-arranger on this, her fourth studio album. A graduate of the National Theatre of Ethiopia, she is a dancer and choreographer, but in recent times has been concentrating on her singing. She is steeped in the tizita style, the nostalgic blues of the Azmari traditional storytelling musicians. The title-track is typical of the tizita style – beautiful and sad as it describes a mother's encouragement to her baby in taking its first steps. Traditional Ethiopian instruments such as the masenqo (single-string fiddle) and washint (wooden flute) combine with saxophone, violin, trombone, clarinet and piano. Other tracks are adorned with orchestrations and a full string section. Contrasting with the tizita songs are more lively and funky tracks like ‘Yikerta’, ‘Wolayta’ and ‘Azawntua’ with its layered vocals and swirling keyboards. A pleasing and varied album that demonstrates Minyeshu's versatility and international appeal.