David Dalle
Thursday November 23rd, 2023 with David Dalle
Afro-Cuban violins, drums, and voice live in Ottawa! Hailu Mergia Ethio-jazz live at Pioneer Works!

Today we're enjoying some really joyful music from Toronto-based Okan, who will be performing in Ottawa Saturday night, and Hailu Mergia in a new release featuring a live performance of his trio at Pioneer Works in New York City. Okan is led by co-leaders vocalist and percussionist Magdelys Savigne, and vocalist and violinist Elizabeth Rodriguez. Their new album features their own compositions combining their classical conservatory upbringing in Cuba with traditional Cuban forms in joyful, danceable music, celebrating motherhood, supplications to Orisha deities, and the challenges of being Cuban exiles in a new home while missing Cuba. Their recent album is delicious music, particularly the violin! They are performing at Club Saw Saturday night. https://www.todocanada.ca/city/ottawa/event/okan-afro-cuban-band/ The second half of the show will be taken by the new release of Ethio-Jazz keyboardist and accordionist Hailu Mergia recorded live at Pioneer Works in NYC. This concert was recorded in 2016, shortly after Hailu Mergia's Ethiopian releases from the late 70's and 80's were reissued by Awesome Tapes From Africa. He had been working as a taxi driver for over a decade and had stopped his music career in 1991. These reissues found a loving contemporary audience, and he would go on to record his first new album in 2018 and achieve global acclaim. We will hear the whole concert!