Te'Amir

Abyssinia

BY Ryan B. PatrickPublished Jul 30, 2018

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Producer/percussionist Te'Amir Sweeney explores his Ethiopian heritage with the five-track Abyssinia EP, a brief but booming offering that hits its mark.
 
The Los Angeles-based artist — known also as the touring drummer for soul artist Aloe Blacc — leans into a love of jazz, roots and hip-hop vibes for a psychedelic aural outing. The jazzy scamper of "Habesha" is a winner, its hefty bass line serving as a foundation of soul. The sonic chant that is "The Quest" lives up to its journeying into a reflective, meditative state of mind. The sax strut of "Randal in Addis" entrances while the traditional rhythms of "Afrika" are layered with the urgency of its brass and keys soundscape.
 
Te'Amir's Abyssinia takes a look at the traditional legacy of Ethio-jazz, weaving in modern-day interpretations of the genre in the process.
(Tru Thoughts)

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