WOMAD

Mahmoud Ahmed

From Ethiopia

Since the European release of 'Eré Mèla Mèla' (1986 Crammed Discs / expanded and remastered 1999 Buda Musique), Mahmoud Ahmed along with Aster Aweke and Gigi, is without doubt the Ethiopian artist least unknown to the western public. This influential album, originally released in Ethiopia in 1975, was for years the only example of modern Ethiopian music known in the 'west' and has been praised by critics from the New Musical Express to The New York Times.

Music, in particular, plays a strong integrating role in Ethiopian society and Mahmoud is a true veteran of the scene; he began appearing with the Imperial Bodyguard Band in 1962-63 and has never stopped since, accompanied by just about every Ethiopian musician of note. His "melancholy blues, piercingly minimalist country airs, brassy, danceable urban jazz, heart-wrenching, off-key crooners: a rich and stirring patchwork of sounds, crossing afro-beat, latino-swing moves and Eastern arabesques" (Anaïs Prosaïc) have, more recently, been reappraised with acclaimed, energetic performances at Womad, and as a well-deserved and popular winner of the 'Africa' category at the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in 2007.
(Biography supplied by artist's agent 2009)

http://www.ethiopiques.info/
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