Abatte Barihun

Abate Berihun (; born 1967) is an Ethiopia-born Israeli jazz saxophonist and composer. His sound is reminiscent of John Coltrane's, who has influenced Berihun's style.

By the age of 16, Berihun joined the Ethiopian military band, with which he toured through Ethiopia and the Eastern Bloc. Mengistu Haile Mariam once sent him to play at Kim Il-sung's birthday in North Korea. This period in his life came to an abrupt end six years later, when the band's bus was ambushed by EPRDF forces, rebelling against Mengistu's Marxist dictatorship. Most band members were killed in the prolonged attack, and Berihun was wounded by two bullets.

For eight years Berihun kept playing every night at the Hilton and Sheraton hotels of Addis Ababa. Facing a language barrier and alimony, Berihun worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant through the day and as a night security guard. His fingers were burned by dishwashing detergents, hindering his practice with his saxophones. He was discovered by Moshe Bar-Yuda, then head of the Tomer NGO, and formerly (1957) one of the first Israeli emissaries to Beta Israel communities. Bar Yuda brought Berihun together with musicologist Shlomo Israeli, who was touched by Berihun's playing. Israeli paired Berihun with jazz pianist Yitzhak Yedid, a successful match that gave rise to the "Ras Deshen Ensemble".

Ras Deshen Berihun and Yedid's ensemble is named after the Amharic name of Ras Dashen mountain, the highest mountain in Ethiopia. Ras Dashen belongs to the rugged Semien Mountains, where Ethiopian Jews defended themselves against persecutions by the Christian Emperors of Ethiopia through the 14th-17th Centuries. Ras Deshen's premiere concert took place in September 2001 on a festival in Tel Aviv. In September 2002 the duo recorded its self-titular maiden album, which was released in 2004. The album was hailed by music critics and was rated among the two best Israeli jazz albums of the year. Three of these modes - Bati, Tezeta and Ambassel - originate from the Wollo region in the Ethiopian Highlands, where most of the Jewish community has concentrated. The fourth mode, Anchi Hoye, is used in religious music.

Anchi Hoye which is the Jewish Ethiopian synagogue, as well as in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It is also used in wedding music, as well as in courting songs, love songs, and battle songs. Tezeta mode is used to express dreams, wishes and yearnings. Ethiopian Jews used this mode to express their yearning to Jerusalem and the Land of Israel. After coming to Israel, this mode has been used to express nostalgia to Ethiopia. Some love and wedding songs were also composed in this mode, that originates from the Wollo region.

Ambassel Ambassel is a mountain fortress ruled by the Jantirar, and a woreda named after it in Wollo region. Ambassel district raised many musicians and music lovers. Ambassel mode is used for singing historical and traditional tales and for children's songs. Its popularity throughout Ethiopia grew as Empress Menen Asfaw, the daughter of Jantirar Asfaw, became consort of Emperor Haile Selassie. The duo was joined by singer Esther Keinan-Ofri, drummer Tegen Zenba, contrabassist Ora Boazsson-Chorev and dancer Tezeta. Composed by Berihun, Yedid and Keinan-Ofri, it blended Israeli, Arabic, and classical elements with the corresponding Kessim chants.

Kuluma In December 2003 Berihun established the Kuluma band, together with Itamar Borochov (trumpet), Alon Yoffe (drums and vocals), Uri Naveh (West African percussion), Sangit Dotan Segal (Afro-Cuban percussion and vocals), Orr Bareket (bass guitar) and David Adda (keyboards and vocals). In December 2005 they released their debut album, Mother Tongue ("שפת אם"). Both the album and their concerts, mixing Ethiopian music with Cuban influences, gained critical acclaim.

Other collaborations

Abate Berihun collaborating with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra at the International Human Rights March, Tel Aviv, 2011. Ariel Zilber has supported Berihun and added him to his concerts since they met. He joined the East West Ensemble to their concert "The Hidden Spirituals" ("מוסיקה מעולמות עליונים"), released as a 2006 album titled "Kabbalah Music - The Hidden Spirituals". Berihun sings the chant Behatito Kadus Kadus on a different arrangement, escorted by the ensemble.

Berihun plays with Nadav Haber's quartet on their acclaimed Addis Mist concert, starting 2006. Haber described his meeting with Berihun as an important step in his musical development: "Abate taught me what the saxophone can do in Ethiopian music, and only after I met him I became an Ethiopian saxophonist myself. The inspiration he gave me made me start practicing twice as much".

In May 2007 Berihun played on Melbourne Jazz Festival with Australian pianist Aaron Choulai, on a concert termed "the most unique showcase of the entire festival". Their three gigs through the festival, including compositions from Ras Deshen's repertoire, drew high attention.