Format: LP Label: Awesome Tapes From Africa Year: 2014 Media Condition: New Sleeve/Cover Condition: New TRACKS: A1 Tche Belew A2 Yemiasleks Fikir A3 Yikirta Lemminalehu A4 Musicawi Silt A5 Lomi Tera-tera B1 Woghenei B2 Ibakish Tarekigne B3 Birtukane B4 Eti Gual Blenai B5 Yenuro Tesla Alegne Originally released in 1977. PERSONNEL: Alto Saxophone – Abebe Kassa Bass Guitar – Melaku Gabrie Chorus – Aster Aweke, Getachew Kassa, Tegest Abate Drums – Temare Haregu Guitar – Mahmmud Aman Organ – Hailu Mergia Piano – Girma Beyene Saxophone, Flute – Moghes Habte Trumpet – Yohannes Tekola Xylophone, Congas – Mulatu Astatke A trailblazing powerhouse of modern Ethiopian music, Hailu Mergia and the Walias Band were at the forefront of the musical revolution during an era where modern instruments and foreign styles superseded the traditional fare to become the staple sound of Ethiopia. Tche Belew, an album of instrumentals released in 1977, is perhaps the most seminal recording released in the aftermath of the 1974 revolution. Like so many of his compatriots both within and outside the musical community, Hailu Mergia emigrated from Ethiopia at the turn of the 1980's, and settled permanently in the DC area. He lived in relative anonymity, working primarily as a cab driver, performing and recording only sporadically until New York-based record label Awesome Tapes From Africa began re-issuing his classic Ethiopian records in the 2010's. In 2018 he recorded his first LP of new material in at least 20 years, Lala Belu, to wide acclaim, and followed up in 2020 with the Yene Mircha LP. Tche Belew was among the first re-issues of Mergia and Walias Band's original Ethiopian LP's. Hats off to ATFA for returning this one-of-a-kind pioneer to the studio, stage, and shop shelves! And what a spectacular addition to the musical life of the nation's capital.
