The Tezeta Band will close out the 40th Annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival starting at 7:00pm on Sunday, July 19!
Click here to access the Twitch online live streaming of this performance!
Ethiopian Music’s hypnotically funky rhythms and exotic tonality lay the foundation for Tezeta Band, an eight-piece ensemble that plays nostalgic instrumental soul music. With a sound rooted in Ethio-Jazz, Tezeta Band (pronounced tih-zeh-tah Band) have been playing old-school African jams across clubs, festivals and restaurants to popular acclaim since 2008. The group was created by members of legendary 90s Portland hip-hop group, Five Fingers of Funk, who became obsessed with the catchy melodies and pulsing grooves introduced on the French compilation series, Ethiopiques. 10 years later Tezeta Band still creates energetic and soulful music inspired by the golden age of Ethiopia.
Tezeta Band has had the distinct honor to open for and share the stage with such legends as, Mahmoud Ahmed, Aster Aweke, Toots & the Maytals, Cubanismo, Hugh Masekela,& Vieux Farke Toure. In 2016 Tezeta Band self-released a full length LP "The Origin of Night life" and their music has been featured on several internationally known compilations, Noise and Chill Out: Ethiopian Groove Worldwide and Beyond Addis 1 & 2. In 2014 Tezeta Band's music was also used in the award winning independent documentary "Zemene". Their version of Mahmoud Ahmed’s single “Gizie Degu Neger” was also voted into the top local songs of 2015 by jazz radio KMHD and their single “The
Viper” was featured in Songlines Magazine’s CD sampler (October 2016). Tezeta Band is currently hard at work on a new album of original material with hopes of a release in the near future.
Tezeta Band consists of former Five Fingers of Funk players, Ted Hille/ Saxophone, Tim Cook / Keyboards. Curt Bieker/Trombone & Josh Prewitt/ Trumpet also Mark Blanding/drums (Brass Roots), Percussionist Jim Fisher, Guitarist Brent Martens (Ural Thomas & the Pain ) & Bassist Arcellus Sykes (Ural Thomas & the Pain).
More tour dates, news, music and blog posts for Tezeta Band can be found at www.tezetaband.com . www.reverbnation.com/tezetaband www.facebook.com/tezetaband/, www.soundcloud.com/tezetaband
PRESS LINKS
“US-based Tezeta Band offer up some funky organ lines and solid grooves.” Songlines Magazine UK
http://www.songlines.co.uk/world-music-news/2016/08/best-new-releases- october-121-issue/
“It's the kind of thing you put on, then wonder why you feel so damn good 30 minutes later. If only more bands would harness this.” Parker Hall –
Willamette Week
http://www.wweek.com/music/2016/01/20/tezeta-band-the-origin-of-nightlife-self- released/
”..one of Portland’s best-kept secrets.” Robert Ham – Willamette Week
http://tezetaband.com/2011/01/31/tezeta-band-featured-in-the- willamette-week-thank-you-robert-ham-article-repost/
“The sweet sounds of the Tezeta Band put some bounce in my step as I sauntered down to the festival.” Aaron Sharpsteen - SSG Music
http://www.ssgmusic.com/photo-set-tezeta-band-pdx-pop-now-2014/
“Tezeta band delivered a deliciously gooey, melty, warm dish of funk rooted grooviness.” Rosalyn Radakovich – SSG Music
http://www.ssgmusic.com/live-review-vieux-farka-toure-tezeta-band-the- mississippi-studios/
“If you're looking for a dance party with tons of energy and grooves that just won't quit, this is where you need to be.”
Ned Lannaman – Portland Mercury
https://www.portlandmercury.com/events/4945756/the-tezeta-band-toque-libre- and-dj-lord-smithingham
