Yaho Bele / Say Yeah
Innacor Records (46 mins)
Badume’s Band are one of the mainstays of European Ethio-jazz, with over a decade of experience as the go-to backing band for Swinging Addis legends such as Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshèté. Now celebrating their 15th anniversary, the band (in a slimmed-down trio formation) release their long-awaited third album – their first since 2011 and their second spotlighting singer Selamnesh Zéméné.
Unlike the pop star Ethio-jazzers, Selamnesh is from the tradition of the azmari, wandering bards that sing history and political commentary under layers of comedy and poetics. Azmari music has a unique sound, based on the Ethiopian pentatonic kignit scales and distinctive kebero drum rhythms. On Yaho Bele, Badume’s Band give the azmari repertoire a rocky punch without losing any of its unmistakable flavour.
It’s in the slower, bluesier pieces where the whole group shine the most, such as on ‘Ye Ambassel Mare’, where distorted guitar solos over a sparse groove and hints of extended jazz chords while Selamnesh’s powerful voice stretches high above it all. In fact, this new, smaller set-up of Badume’s Band actually allows everyone the space to flourish, still creating rich backdrops for vocal fireworks without it feeling crowded.
Azmari songs with a rock swagger and an Ethio-jazz swing – it certainly is an exciting combination.