Thank you to all our old and new friends who joined us last month for the first night of our monthly residency at the Blue Whale. It was a magical night performing the Mulatu of Ethiopia album with legendary saxophonist Justo Almario.

This month, Ethio Cali will invoke the spirit of ‘Semena Werq’ (aka Wax and Gold) and perform a new set of songs from the catalogues of Hailu Mergia & Walias, Alemayehu Eshete, The Police Orchestra, and other luminaries of Ethio Jazz. Semena Werq is a form of traditional Ethiopian poetry that has one surface meaning, known as wax, and multiple hidden meanings, known as gold. Musicians have used Semena Werk to explore topics such as spirituality, politics, and matters of the heart. We look forward to exploring the many layers of meaning contained within the music we will be performing.

For this performance, we’ll also be featuring an amazing string section for the first time. Please join us for what promises to be another special night.

Featuring:

Todd Simon – (trumpet, music director, arranging)
Randal Fisher – (saxophone)
Mark de Clive-Lowe – (piano)
Alan Lightner – (steel pan, percussion)
Damon Aaron – (guitar)
Patrick Bailey – (bass)
Steve Haney – (percussion)
Te’Amir Yohannes Sweeney – (percussion, drums)
Dexter Story – (drums, percussion, arranging)

Special guests:
Thomas Lea – (viola)
Peter Jacobson – (cello)
Tylana Renga (violin)
Aron Tadesse – (kirar)

Curated by Sonny Abegaze

Sunday, November 17, 2013

$10 cover

Blue Whale
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-0908