Debo Band

It begins with a slow shimmer, a quiet build akin to an orchestra tuning up in which hints of the whole subtly make themselves known. That subtlety though, lasts a mere ten seconds before the funky fusion, or what might best be described an an ethnic musical party kicks in. This is the Debo Band and they are certainly not the authors of any sort of book.

They are of course, musicians and their excellent self titled album is one of the first pieces of music I have checked out of our CD collection. Call it a fortuitous occurrence or the benefits of a quickly scan-able collection, but howsoever you describe my rather random selection of this album, the one adjective phrase that must be applied is great grooves.

Based out of Boston but primarily drawing on traditional and modern Ethiopian music, the Debo Band is a highly eclectic group of 12 different musicians that pull together a disparate mix of jazz, funk, folk, brassy swing, Celtic melodies, klezmer, and most importantly, Ethiopian influences. Led by Danny Mekonnen, an ethnomusicologist born in Sudan but raised in the U.S. as well as French raised Ethiopian Bruck Tesfaye who sings in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, the Debo Band in a mere 11 tracks, somehow manages to make the exotic sounds of a place far away sound not just accessible, but fantastic.

While strong original songwriting combined with unique reprisals of a broad range of traditional Ethiopian songs is a major reason for this success, it is the seamless and adventurous blend of so many different styles and instruments that makes the Debo Band's self titled album a great listen. In the first four songs alone the audience is exposed to psychedelic guitar riffs, sweaty nightclub speed percussion, an accordion solo, tinny horns, the deep pounding of a sousaphone, the unique riff of an electric violin, and the whispered croon of a great voice. Oh, and the album is only just getting started.