By NATE CHINEN
Published: August 21, 2008
Cultural exchange rarely gets more rapturous than it did on Wednesday night at Damrosch Park, in a free concert of African music presented by Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Over the course of about four hours, an overflow audience beheld the efforts of several imposing legends from Ethiopia; a raucous art-punk band from the Netherlands; a jazz combo from Cambridge, Mass.; and a group with roots in Kenya and Washington. The show started strong and never flagged, helped along by an enthusiastic crowd.
The show’s biggest stars were Mahmoud Ahmed, a transfixing vocalist, and Getatchew Mekurya, an authoritative saxophonist. Both artists have reached global audiences through “Éthiopiques,” the acclaimed reissue series on Buda Musique, a French label. And both artists used their stage time to evoke the exuberance of Addis Ababa in the 1970s. But they appeared in separate sets, and with two strikingly different groups. Read More.
Hot Shots From Historic Ethiopian Concert in New York (Tadias)
By Tadias Staff
Photos by Trent Wolbe and Tadias
Published: Thursday, August 21, 2008
New York (Tadias) – Wow, what an event! On Wednesday evening, Damrosch’s Park was packed with Ethiopiques enthusiasts and curious New Yorkers who were treated to an astonishing concert of fusion rock, jazz and Ethiopian music. The historic event at the Lincoln Center’s out of doors concert, one of the longest-running free summer festivals in the U.S, featured Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete accompanied by the Either Orchestra, and the legendary saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya in collaboration with Dutch band the Ex. The trio performed for the first time at Damrosch’s Park.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos
by Trent Wolbe
Alemayehu Eshete and Mahmoud Ahmed (Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
Damrosch’s Park, NYC. (Photos by Trent Wolbe)
Getatchew Mekurya (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
(Photos by Trent Wolbe)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos by Trent Wolbe
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos by Trent Wolbe
Getatchew Mekurya (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
Photos by Trent Wolbe)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos by Trent Wolbe
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos by Trent Wolbe
Tinos and his son Liben. (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
Photo/Tadias).
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos by Trent Wolbe
Tseday, Asse, Meron, and Negus (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s
Park, NYC. Photo/Tadias).
Maki, Feven, and Maro (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
Photo/Tadias).
Mickey Dread and Betty (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
Photo/Tadias).
Adam Saunders & Lydia Gobena (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s
Park, NYC. Photo/Tadias).
Jessica Beshir (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
Photo/Tadias).
Sara Menker & Zelela Menker (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park,
NYC. Photo/Tadias).
Dave and Tseday (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC.
Photo/Tadias).
Christopher Demma and Elias Kedir (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s
Park, NYC. Photo/Tadias).
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photo/Tadias.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos by Trent Wolbe.
Mahmoud Ahmed (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos
by Trent Wolbe.
Mahmoud Ahmed (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos
by Trent Wolbe)
Alemayehu Eshete (Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Damrosch’s Park, NYC. Photos
by Trent Wolbe
Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete headed to Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant after the performance.
Related:
Ethio Jazz to Rock New York with Free Outdoor Concert (Tadias)
The Ex Finds a Soulmate in an Ethiopian Sax Legend
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