Mahmoud Ahmed & JAzmaris - Yeshi Haregitu (live) Art Centre Melbourne 2017

Undeniably Ethiopia’s most famous singer of its 1970s golden era, Mahmoud Ahmed rose to fame amid a turbulent political climate in which he did everything to keep singing. After the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie and the suspension of musical nightlife under the oppressive Derg regime, he continued to make hit records and cassettes with the musicians who remained in the country. Influenced by the swagger of Pat Boone, Elvis Presley and Sam Cooke, Mahmoud is celebrated for his free-wheeling vocals, quavering Amharic rhythm and mastery of the kraal. Since the late 1990s Mahmoud has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after the Buda Musique, a French record label specialising in world music, reissued three of his albums as part of the Ethiopiques series of CDs. This did for Ethiopia’s music scene what the Buena Vista Social Club did for Cuba's music scene. In May 2017, Melbourne based Ethio-Jazz ensemble, JAzmaris united with the Ethiopian icon to perform two sell out and energetic shows at Art center Melbourne (Play house ) Video production : Zanta Film Productions Daniel Seifu - keyboard(Production Manager ) Yoseph Haile - Bass Luke Koszański - Guitar Zelalem Negatu - Drum Jacob Kinniburgh - Percussion Solomon Sisay - Tenor Sax Abiy Sahle - Tenor Sax Jimmy Bowman - Trombone Fabian Acuna - Trumpet