Debo Band is a Boston-based Ethiopian music collective led by Ethiopian-American jazz saxophonist Danny Mekonnen, featuring Bruck Tesfaye on vocals. The group explores the music that was popular in Addis Ababa in the 1960s and 70s. Danny was fascinated by the combination of contemporary American soul and funk music, traditional East African polyrhythms and pentatonic scales and the instrumentation of Eastern European brass bands.
Debo Band attracts audiences from both mainstream American and Ethiopian American communities. They have opened for legendary Ethiopian greats such as Tilahun Gessesse and Getatchew Mekuria.
Debo’s instrumentation includes horns, strings and accordion, influenced by the big bands of Haile Selassie’s Imperial Bodyguard Band and Police Orchestra as well as modern Ethiopian music.
Discography:
Flamingoh (CRC Edition, 2010)
Debo Band (Next Ambiance 201
Ere Gobez (FPE Records, 2016)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
