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Debo Band
Ethiopian Rock
With a reverence for the vintage sounds of 1970s Ethiopian pop and a
fresh approach all their own, Debo Band offers an exciting live show
full of the searing horns, crooning vocals, and slinky funk grooves
that brought renown to the Ethiopiques series. Founded by
Ethiopian-America musician Danny Mekonnen, the group is committed to
introducing Ethiopian music to new audiences far and wide.
Since forming in 2006, this Boston-based collective of eleven members
has made two pilgrimages to East Africa -- with accordions, tubas,
saxophones, guitars, and drums in tow. Along the way, Debo Band has
struck up collaborations with traditional Ethiopian artists, played
major African music festivals, and is currently working with a
filmmaker on a documentary about their escapades.
Debo Band recently produced its first two releases: Adderech Arada, a
7" single on the Brooklyn-based label Electric Cowbell Records, and
Flamingoh (Pink Bird Dawn), a self-released EP/CD recorded live in
Africa and the US, documenting their unique take on 1970s Ethiopian
funk. In September 2010, Debo Band presented the debut U.S. tour of
their project with Fendika, a dance and folk music ensemble from Addis
Ababa, at the Chicago World Music Festival and Joe's Pub (NYC).