SAMUEL YIRGA — Guzo

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4.00 | 1 rating | 1 review

Album · 2012

Filed under World Fusion
By SAMUEL YIRGA

Tracklist

1. Abet Abet (5:13)
2. Tiwista (5:57)
3. Firma Ena Wereket (6:58)
4. Ye Bati Koyita (8:27)
5. Nou Se Soleil (feat. The Creole Choir of Cuba) (0:56)
6. I Am the Black Gold of the Sun (feat. The Creole Choir of Cuba) (5:26)
7. Dance with the Legend (4:26)
8. My Head (5:45)
9. Drop Me There (8:29)
10. The Blues of Wollo (Dessye mix) (4:44)
11. African Diaspora (feat. Nicolette) (6:43)

Total Time 63:10

Line-up/Musicians

Bass – Frew Mengiste (tracks: 1, 3, 10), Winston Blissett (tracks: 6, 11)
Congas, Djembe – Toby Mills (tracks: 8)
Congas, Percussion [Percussion Kit] – Paul Chivers (tracks: 2, 6, 8, 11)
Double Bass – Bernard O'Neill (tracks: 2, 8)
Drum [Kebero] – Missale Legese (tracks: 1, 3, 10)
Drums – Clark Tracey (tracks: 2)
Drums, Cuica – Nick van Gelder (tracks: 6, 8, 11)
Guitar [Guitars], Backing Vocals, Programmed By – Dubulah (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11)
Handclaps [Claps] – Toby Mills (tracks: 6, 8)
Percussion – Yonas Yimam (tracks: 1, 3, 10)
Performer [Messenqo] – Endris Hassan (tracks: 1. 3. 10)
Piano [Acoustic], Organ [Hammond], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Keyboards [MIDI], Whistling – Samuel Yirga
Tambourine – Toby Mills (tracks: 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Aklilu W/yohannes (tracks: 1, 3), Feleke Hailu (tracks: 2, 8)
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Ben Somers (tracks: 2, 6, 8, 11)
Trombone – Robert Dowell (tracks: 6, 8, 11), Yishak Dawit (tracks: 1, 3)
Trumpet – Tewodros Alula (tracks: 1, 3)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Neil Waters (tracks: 2, 8), jonathan Radcliffe (tracks: 6, 11)
Vocals – The Creole Choir Of Cuba (tracks: 5. 6. 11), Genet Masresha (tracks: 10), Mel Gareh (tracks: 6), Nicolette (tracks: 6, 11)

About this release

Real World Records ‎– CDRW190 (Europe)

Thanks to dreadpirateroberts for the addition and snobb for the updates

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dreadpirateroberts

Samuel Yirga is a young Ethiopian pianist (perhaps known to fans of ‘Dub Colossus’), whose playing seems most influenced by Jarrett, but whose compositions very much reflect a ‘world’ feel. There’s a mix of Latin, Jazz, Classical and traditional Ethiopian pieces here, but with a fairly slick production, which seems a feature of label Real World.

‘Guzo’ sometimes bring Mulatu Astatke to mind (‘Tiwista’) and can be a very rhythmic album, with tracks like ‘My Head’, ‘Abet Abet’ or the fantastic cover of ‘I Am the Black Gold of the Sun’ bringing a lot of percussion into play. Samuel also has three beautiful solo pieces on the album – my favourite being the haunting ‘Ye Bati Koyita.’

His debut also features some great guest vocal performances, the ‘Blues of Wollo’ featuring the moody wails of Genet Masresha being a real standout. The album has been pretty rewarding over repeated listens and I’m looking forward to hearing whatever’s next for Samuel Yirga.