Debo Band has won praise for their groundbreaking take on Ethiopian pop music, which incorporates traditional scales and vocal styles, alongside American soul and funk rhythms, and instrumentation reminiscent of Eastern European brass bands — accordion, violins, horns and drums.
The album was produced by Thomas “Tommy T” Gobena of Gogol Bordello, recorded at Machines with Magnets (Battles, Deer Tick) and mastered by Grammy nominated engineer Joe LaPorta at The Lodge.
Preceding the album release, Debo Band has scheduled a handful of festival performances, which include: March 16 at SXSW for both globalFEST and Sub Pop’s label showcase; April 26-28 in Lafayette, Louisiana at Festival International de Louisiane; and April 29 in New Orleans, LA at the Jazz & Heritage Festival.
More About Debo Band
Debo Band is a 11-member group led by Ethiopian-American saxophonist Danny Mekonnen and fronted by charismatic vocalist Bruck Tesfaye. Since its inception in 2006, Debo Band has toured Ethiopia twice, having appeared at both the Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa and Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, the largest music festival in East Africa.
In North America, they’ve shared stages with Gogol Bordello, The Family Stone, Tilahun Gessesse (one of the great voices of Ethiopian pop since the 60’s), The Ex with Ethiopian sax legend Getatchew Mekuria, Group Doueh, and Khaira Arby and Her Band. They’ve also performed at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, The Kennedy Center, Montreal Jazz Fest, globalFEST 2012 at Webster Hall, Joe’s Pub, and World Music Festival: Chicago.
Tour Dates
Mar. 16 – Austin, TX – Red 7 / Sub Pop SXSW showcase (early)
Mar. 16 – Austin, TX – Speakeasy / globalFEST SXSW showcase (late)
Apr. 26 – Lafayette, LA – Festival International de Louisiane
Apr. 28.- Lafayette, LA – Festival International de Louisiane
Apr. 29. – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
