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Artist
Kibrom Birhane
12+ albums
ethiopiajazzfunkpsychedelicpiano
about
Kibrom Birhane carries with him an ancient tradition, a spirit of dedication to roots and ever-expanding innovation. The Ethiopian-born multi-instrumentalist and keyboardist extraordinaire is a leader among jazz artists, mixing spiritual and Ethiopian jazz motifs to create a uniquely deep sound that resonates across cultures and musical concepts. As a child, Kibrom studied Ethiopian orthodox chanting and traditional instruments at a monastery, later melding thousand-year-old musical histories with modern sounds. This religious connection to music is a testament to Kibrom's artistry; a righteous gift he shares as teacher and creator. Kibrom is a humble but prolific and engaging player whose art has touched the Mekane Yesus School of Jazz Music in Addis, the far reaches of Ethiopia, and taken flight across the world to California. Thousands of miles from his native land, Kibrom found commune with Los Angeles African jazz ensemble Ethio-Cali – a renowned group whose members included Jazz luminaries Kamasi Washington, Dexter Story, Mark De-Clive Lowe and others. With Ethio-Cali, Kibrom cemented himself as an important figure in the LA arts community and beyond. Kibrom’s deep understanding of Ethiopian tradition and sublime ability to fuse those sounds with funk, gospel, pop and folk earned him an All African Music Award nomination for best male artist. His unique interpretations and melodic textures are on full display on his debut record, Kibrom’s Tizita, the self-released Bo
