‘Ethiojazz’ they call the music that emerged in the last decade of Haile Selassie’s reign; a quirky Ethiopian interpretation of funk, soul, jazz and rock & roll. The vinyl that circulated in the hip nightlife of Addis Ababa was reissued decades later under the title “Ethiopiques. After that, the rest of the world also embraced this East African dance music.

Entoto Band reinterprets classics from Ethiopia and Eritrea and writes its own songs in the same style. The soulful voice of singer ‘Queen’ Helen Mengestu is flanked by the possessed saxophone playing of Amanyal ‘Million’ Tewelde and an army of experienced stage performers, led by the master guitarist with Limburg roots, Joep Pelt.

Roaring saxophones, soulful vocals and grooving rhythms merge into an energetic performance. You imagine yourself on the dance floor of swinging Addis Ababa.

Line-up

Helen Mengestu – vocals

Million Tewelde – saxophone / aerophone / vocals

Joep Pelt – guitar

Elvis Sergo – Hammond organ / synthesizers

DJ de Koning – percussion

Randell Sambo – drums

joeppelt.com

facebook.com/entotoband