Zion Roots

Zion Roots Artist: Abyssinia Infinite , and Gigi Shibabaw
Label: World Network
Category: Music


Buying details


Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 785965105020
EAN: 0785965105020
ASIN: B0000CC623


Release Date: 2003-12-09

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Africa | International | Styles | Music
General General
Related | International | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music

Listmania:

  1. Essentials of World Music
  2. The best Bill Laswell albums to date 2 in no order
  3. The Best Ethiopian CD's (on Amazon)

Tracks:

  1. Bati Bati
  2. Gela
  3. Alesema
  4. Monew Natana
  5. Embe Ashafergne
  6. Gole
  7. Aba Alem Lemenea
  8. Gedawo
  9. Lebaye
  10. Ethiopia

Similar Items:

  1. Gigi
  2. Gold and Wax
  3. Illuminated Audio
  4. Ethiopiques, Vol. 1: Golden Years Of Modern Ethiopian Music
  5. The Rough Guide To The Music of Ethiopia

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Ethiopia.......2007-02-24

Handle by steve swallow gigi shibabaw give us a pure traditional moment of
ethiopian music song mixed wid some occidental polyrythms.
Excellent album for this woman who worked wid several artist as herbie hancock and else...

5 out of 5 stars Zion Roots Mysterious.......2006-08-19

Really nice music to listen to while relaxing or chilling later at night. There is a scense of mystery in this and GiGi's first album which I really like also. The other positive reviews speak for them selves.

5 out of 5 stars Zion Roots.......2004-10-08

Wow, I've never heard Ethiopian music, this is fantastic, the more you listen the more it gets you, each song unfolding into the next it comes close to creating a trance, her voice has an echo of Joni Mitchell in it, the whole thing is just fab and not too overproduced , it retains more of its roots. Has tradiional and new compositions by her .

5 out of 5 stars An explosion of creativity.......2004-04-06

Featuring Ethiopian singer Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw, Zion Roots is an explosion of creativity sprung amidst the opportunities present since the relenting of a harsh military regime whose strict curfews shut down live bands and all but destroyed Ethiopian rock. A veritable explosion of sound, celebration, and passion by Abyssinia Infinite, Zion Roots features: Bati Bati (3:45), Gela (6:08), Alesema (7:26), Monew Natana (5:12), Embe Ashafergne (4:27), Gole (6:03), Aba Alem Lemenea (4:15), Gedawo (4:42), Lebaye (4:47), and Ethiopia (6:15) Total Playing Time 53:13.

5 out of 5 stars Raising the standards.......2004-03-27

Gigi's long awaited new album has not failed its promise. This new cd follows the same general lines of her previous album, with less jazz-fusion touches and more traditional Ethiopian sound.

To this album Gigi brought several different Ethiopian rhythms. There is a song with a touch of Guragegnya (Embe Asheferegne), and an Agaw song (Monew Natana). Other than that, Gig sticks to Amhara based music, with the two catchiest Ethiopian scales (Bati and Tizita). There are, of course, touches of funk that probably come from Bill Laswell.

It is interesting to compare this music, aimed at world music market, with music that is being aimed at Ethiopians more exclusively. While Gigi's music is very rhythmic, it is not dance music, while practically all music that is produced for the Ethiopian market is dance music.

Gigi's great contribution is that her work offers the highest standards of production - in sound, arrangement and instrumentation. She thus opens the way for Ethiopian musicians to the broader world market, and brings the Ethiopian sounds to many fresh, non-Ethiopian ears.

Gigi has an average voice in the traditional Ethiopian sense, but her voice is perfect for the setting that the album offers. It is sensual and reflective, and allows the general "world" mood that is required. The playing of the other musicians on this cd is amazing, from the traditional Kirar and washint to the more modern saxophone. The tenor sax is played by Moges Habte, who is, in my opinion, the leading Ethiopian sax player today, and deserves greater exposure.

My favorite track is the last, "Ethiopia", that features a beautiful, haunting loop behind Gigi's best singing.

This cd is essential for anyone interested in Ethiopian music, world music, or just good music that feels great.

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