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CD Review
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Dallas Morning News, CD Review >>
The Ethiopian singer known as Gigi (née Ejigayehu Shibabaw) isn't journeying all the way back in her nation's musical history on Zion Roots.
But the album offers a stronger traditional, acoustic component than her two previous Bill Laswell-produced releases, which were aimed more at the worldbeat-electronica audience.
Her new group, Abyssinia Infinite, is led by Mr. Laswell on acoustic guitar and keyboards and features luminaries such as Senegalese percussionist Aiyb Dieng, tabla player Karsh Kale and guitarist-accordionist Tony Cedras. The Ethiopian contingent includes Melaku Gelaw on the washint, a bamboo flute, and kirar, a type of harp, plus backing vocalists Tigist Shibabaw and Teddy Shibabaw.
The ensemble provides earthy, richly textured settings for Gigi's sinuous, otherworldy vocals in the melodious Amharic language. Mr. Laswell can't resist the occasional unnecessary wash of keyboards, but overall Zion Roots takes the compelling young singer in a good direction.
Parry Gettelman 12/21/03
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