Here and There

Since its (then) undiscovered flowering in the 1970s, Ethio-jazz has spread around the musical world like an exotic plant. Before winning a scholarship that took him to the US, this LA-based Ethiopian keyboards player assimilated the jazz legends of his homeland, having absorbed ancient Orthodox chanting as a child. As part of the esteemed Ethio Cali outfit, which included future saxophone star, Kamasi Washington, Birhane digested some of the other influences at play on his riveting third solo album, Here and There.

Recorded direct to tape with a group of top LA session players, it’s a deep, meditative affair made up of 11 of Birhane’s long trance-like compositions. Birhane often plays a heavily electrified piano – over a solid rhythm section, with themes generally stated by a horn section tuned to that mysterious minor-key sound that makes Ethiopian jazz so mesmerising. His own spiritual-sounding vocals enhance the finale ‘Abetu’, the infectiously funky ‘Tinish Tinish’ and the squalling ‘Enate’, while a sublime chorus helps make ‘Maleda’ an upbeat joy. On the cooler ‘Weleta’, the electric piano works well in tandem with Nadav Peled’s guitar, played extraordinarily almost like a kora on ‘Mender’. A top-notch album full of the very best contemporary Ethio-jazz.