Abba Jorga

Music:

Member Since: 05/11/2006
Band Website: www.wudasse.com, www.myspace.com/wudasse
Band Members: Highlights I am a self-taught musician with a musical background that combines the spirit of Jazz with the ancient and diverse sounds found in Ethiopian music. As part of my continuous experimentation in balancing the two musical languages, I started the Ethio-Jazz Group Wudasse with two other Ethiopian musicians, and have released one live album entitled ‘Selam.”Most recently I had opportunity to compose a score for the movie “Teza” by a Ethiopian-American Film maker Haile Gerima. The score was produced under the supervision of New York based pianist and composer Vijay Iyer. AwardsBest Music Selection at The 22nd Carthage Film Festival, Tunisia Best Composer Award at The 5th Dubai International Film FestivalFilmComposer. Teza. Directed by Haile Gerima. - Winner 65th Venice International Film Festival Special Jury Award. - Winner 22nd Carthage International Film Festival - Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay - Leoncino D’Or 2008 UNICEF Award - 28th Amiens Film Festival Best Feature Film - Golden Unicorn - 2008 Dubai International Film Festival - Best Music - 2009 Rotterdam International Festival - Dioraphte AwardComposer. Journey. Directed by Aida Ashenafi. RadioCo-producer and presenter of 3rd most listened program on Ethiopia’s Sheger 102.1 FM entitled “Yejazz Chewatawoch”. The program focuses on introducing the language of Jazz to the public and showing the musical connections between Jazz and Ethiopia music Producer and presenter of popular radio program ‘Africawian”.Teaching Saxophone instructor at MekaneYesus Jazz School Piano Instructor at Africa Jazz Music School Private Saxophone and Piano InstructionsDiscographyWudasse, Selam. Ethio-Jazz Joni Tona, Sands of the Desert Jorga Mesfin Presents Degagochu (Featuring Takana Miyamoto, Mamaniji, Teferi Assefa, Tewodross Tadesse, Fasil Wuhib) Millennium Promise Jazz Project (Featuring Kirk Whalum, John Legend, Takana Miyamoto) Ethiopian Pop Records : Dawit Messay, Hamelmal Abate, Abiyou Solomon, Zewdou, Sydney Salmon, Rezene Abraham, Abraham Afeworki Benefit Concert DVD, Lilly Tilahun Gospel DVD apperance Mausiki Scales and Common Ground Collective
Influences: My first love on the saxophone was Gene Ammons...and then as i matured i started listening to Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Eddie Harris. On the contemprary side, i was a big fan of Grover Washington...and yes....i did enjoy kenny G on his earlier albums (Silohouette). On the electric side...Head Hunters, Weather Report, Aquarium Rescue Unit.....on the World Music side....Salif Kieta, Babaa Maal, Muluqen Mellesse, Karim Ziyad, Mohktar Samba, Ngyuen Le, Richard Bona, Hugh Masekela, Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango..People who influenced my character...My mother, Tewabech Bishaw, My Father, Mesfin Abebe, My Sisters Sefanit Mesfin, Kaba Berhanu, Della Berhanu, My Brothers Ifa Mesfin, Kiyaa Mesfin....my friends and loved ones Zahara Legesse, Heran Serke-Brhan, Tanya Nigat Jackson, My Mentors Benyam Tsegaye, Fasil Wuhib, Dale Sanders, Asha Alha, Teferi Assefa.The Elders: Haile Gerima, Mother Sharon Ann Smith, Ras Chemash, Ras Talkin Axe Len, Ras Irate...Life
Sounds Like: A musical rollercoaster
Record Label: Unsigned