Atse Tewodros Project, Ethio-Italian Grooves

Atse Tewodros Project – Maqeda (Atse Tewodros Project, 2022)

Atse Tewodros Project is a collective comprising Italian and Ethiopian traditional musicians, created by the Ethio-Italian singer, writer, and performer, Gabriella Ghermandi. As the only existing Italian-Ethiopian band, the ensemble aims to maintain respect for traditional Ethiopian music while simultaneously promoting dialog and exchange. Their focus is on creating pieces of Ethiopian music with jazz influences, incorporating music from ethnic groups whose music is relatively unknown outside of Ethiopia. The group produces songs in eight different languages, and, in addition to the highland ethnic groups, offers music from kunama, gamo, gofa, oromo, and others.

In 2016, the group published their first album, “Ethiopia: Celebrating Emperor Tewodros II,” which received numerous international awards and was distributed in 65 countries. Some of the album’s songs have been included in prestigious collections such as “The Rough Guide to Ethiopian Jazz.” The album includes songs from the Ethiopian Resistance that fought against the Italian Fascist Regime, providing a means to describe the course of human and migrant lives and to talk about plural identities.

In 2022, the group released their second album, “Maqeda” (the Ethiopian name of the Queen of Sheba), entirely dedicated to the female figures of Ethiopian history and mythology and the rituals of ethnic groups that center around women. The album resulted from meticulous ethnomusicological research in Ethiopia, and all the songs and lyrics were written collaboratively between Ethiopia and Italy.

Atse Tewodros Project comprises nine musicians: Gabriella Ghermandi (vocals); Misikir Mindaye (vocals); Fabrizio Puglisi (acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes); Misale Legesse (Ethiopian traditional drum set); Endris Hassen (one-string bowl “Masinko”); Camilla Missio (bass guitar); Abu Gebre (Ethiopian traditional flute “Washint”); Tommy Ruggero (drums and percussion); and Anteneh Teklemariam (acoustic and electric Ethiopian lira “Kirar”).

The group’s leader, Gabriella Ghermandi, was born in Addis Ababa to an Italian father and an Ethiopian mother and raised in Ethiopia. Misikir Mindaye Baranche, another vocalist, is a composer and an expert in the traditional music of the Gofa and Gamo regions in Southern Ethiopia. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Puglisi, an accomplished pianist, spent six years in Holland and has played with artists such as John Zorn, Steve Lacy, and Butch Morris, among others.

Camilla Missio is a bass player who has toured in Italy and abroad with several Italian artists and performed in numerous orchestras for national TV shows with live music. Endris Hassen is a young, dynamic “masenqo” (single-string bowed lute) player who has carried Ethiopia’s musical traditions into the realm of jazz improvisation.

Misale Legesse is a percussionist and traditional drummer who plays traditional music with the Ethio Color Band, eX, Qwuanqwa, and Fendika, and is one of the best Ethiopian traditional drum musicians. Abu Gebre Keto played the washint flute for many years in Ethiopia’s National Theater orchestra and is now a member of the traditional Ethio Color Band.

Anteneh Teklemariam is a krar (Ethiopian lyre) player and composer, who plays the krar in the Ethio Color Band and the Qwanqwa band, and performs on both acoustic and electric krars. Finally, Tommy Ruggero is a percussionist who studied drum set in New York and has a deep passion for percussion instruments.

Buy the album at www.andlay.org/en/product/maqeda-cd/

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.