( Tlahoun Gèssèssè )

To Ethiopian audiences, Tlahoun Gèssèssè is THE VOICE, even more so than Mahmoud Ahmed, Alèmayèhu Eshèté or Mulatu Astatqé. Endowed with a phenomenal, innate vocal talent, he has been the asbsolute and unequalled icon for an entire country since the fifties, heading up the list of Ethiopian discography. Based around seven ‘modernist’ pieces arranged by the brilliant and innovative Mulatu Astatqé (Ethiopiques 4: «Ethiojazz»), these first Ethiopiques devoted to Talhoun Gèssèssè also present ten other songs accompanied by musicians from the Ethiopian institutional bands: the Army Band, the Exhibition Band, the Police Orchestra, the Body Guard Band. Another CD gathering together all his vynil recordings with the Imperial Body Guard Band is scheduled for upcoming Ethiopiques…