Abate Berihun is a prominent Ethiopian-Israeli jazz saxophonist, vocalist, and composer, recognized as one of Israel's leading Ethiopian musicians.
Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Berihun developed an interest in music early in life, acquiring a saxophone and enrolling in the Addis Ababa University Music School. It was during this time that he first encountered the Western jazz tradition, drawing significant inspiration from the works of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. At just 16 years old, he joined the Ethiopian Military Band, a chapter of his life that was tragically cut short six years later when an ambush by EPRDF forces, opposing Mengistu's Marxist regime, resulted in the deaths of many band members and left Berihun himself injured by two bullets.
Following this ordeal, Berihun continued his musical journey with the Ethiopian National Theater and toured internationally alongside renowned artists like Mahmoud Ahmed and Mulatu Astatke. By the age of 21, he had formed his own jazz band, embarking on tours across Europe three times a year, with his last tour concluding just three weeks before relocating to Israel.
In 1999, Berihun joined his family in Israel, where he faced significant cultural and financial challenges in his pursuit of a musical career, compounded by the difficulties of acculturation. Despite these obstacles, including a language barrier and financial responsibilities, he worked as a dishwasher by day and a night security guard, enduring the physical toll of his job on his saxophone practice.
A turning point in Berihun's career came when he was discovered by Moshe Bar-Yuda, then head of the TOMER NGO. Bar-Yuda connected Berihun with musicologist Shlomo Israeli, who was deeply moved by his playing, leading to a partnership with jazz pianist Yitzhak Yedid. This collaboration birthed the Ras Deshen Ensemble, named after the Ras Dashen mountain in Ethiopia, which fuses free jazz with the musical modes of the Ethiopian highlands.
In 2003, Berihun founded the Kuluma band, featuring musicians such as Itamar Borochov (trumpet), Alon Yoffe (drums and vocals), Uri Naveh (West African percussion), Sangit Dotan Segal (Afro-Cuban percussion and vocals), Orr Bareket (bass guitar), and David Adda (keyboards and vocals). Their debut album, "Mother Tongue," released in December 2005, received critical acclaim for its blend of Ethiopian music and Cuban influences.
He later created SHABATE, an ensemble that merges Ethiopian jazz grooves with traditional Jewish soul music. The group recorded an album and toured extensively in Israel and internationally. Berihun also led two other notable ensembles: Tezeta, which aims to revitalize Israeli-Ethiopian musical culture using traditional Ethiopian instruments like the krar, masenko, and kebero, and Tesfa band, featuring a group of young Israeli musicians, with "Tesfa" meaning "hope" in Amharic.
In addition to his ensemble work, Berihun has collaborated with various artists, including Ariel Zilber, Ehud Banai, Yossi Fine, Kutiman, Anat Fort, Omri Mor, Shay Zelman, and others.
His latest project, ADDIS KEN – አዲስ ቀን ("New Day" in Amharic), is a quartet co-led by pianist Roy Mor. This venture presents original compositions, Ethiopian-Jewish soul music, and songs inspired by Jewish prayers, creating a dynamic fusion of ancient Ethiopian traditions and modern jazz sensibilities, characterized by musical exploration, rich harmonies, and emotive blues.
