Biography
Moges Habte(sax) - Moges is one of the greatest sax players of all time in Ethiopian music history. His contribution to the legendary Walias Band is well known. He has performed with most Ethiopian singers in recent memory. Moges started his musical education at St.Yared Music School in Addis Abeba, and continued his education through a correspondence program of Berklee College of Music. Equally adapted in Flute as he is on his Sax, one can hear him blowing up the Flute on his Solo CD entitled “Kebena Godana”. He is a composer and an arranger. His muscal contributions are too numerous to mention, but classics like “Musicawe Silt” which was first heard played by the Walias, is now covered by several bands, all over the world. He has traveled around the world with singers, such as: Mohamud Ahemed, Tilahun Gessess and other well known Ethiopian singers as well.
Alemseged Kebede(E.Bass) - has influenced most of the new generation of Ethiopian bass players.He first started playing professionally in the late 1970’s with famous singers such as: Tilahun Gessesse, Menilik Wosenachew , Muluken Melese, Aster Aweke and with many more Ethiopian singers in recent memory. After moving to Canada and later to the US, he started playing in local restaurants, and clubs. In addition to bass, he also plays Drums and Keyboards. He has arranged and produced more than 2 albums of his own and played bass almost on every Ethiopian singers music CD’s in recent times. Traveled allover the world and shared the stage with the great African bands like Manu Dibango, Hugh Masakela, and Ellis Marsalis. Alemseged remains a first call musician for many artists, who need his soulful, funky bass lines to complement their music.
Araya Woldemichael(Piano and Organ) - Araya is a founder of a Washington DC based Ethio jazz group called the Feedel band and he is also a direct descendant of a former Ethiopian king "Haile Selassie's family" but he has no close relationship with his royal families and very humble about it. The lost prince started his long musical journey by playing organ at his Church. He added guitar and accordion while still a young boy. later went on studying music in Moscow, and immersed himself in classical music, composition and music theory. After arriving to the US, he quickly started playing with local musicians, in restaurants and clubs. During this period he had an opportunity to play with the likes of Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Tilahun Gessesse and Aster Aweke. Araya is probably best known for his work with Aster Aweke, as he has traveled with her extensively for jazz festivals and World music tours which gave him the opportunity to perform on the same stage with various world music luminaries like Manu Dibango, Hugh Masakela, Ellis Marsalis, King Sunny Ade and others. More recently, Araya was part of the Millennium band that played as an opening act for American pop stars Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas, when they performed in Ethiopia in 2008. He is also a composer, arranger, producer and a band leader. One of his latest popular composition is called "Ethiopian Ocean".
Mikias Abebayehu ( Drummer/percussionist) does not quite do Mikias justice. As a student of music, and jazz improvisation, Mikias has been embedded in the DC based music scene for over 25 years. While still a student, he contributed to Tilahun Gessesse’s self titled double CD release in 1993. Since then Mikias has contributed to the advancement of Ethiopian music, by laying down some incredible rhythms for numerous artists. For several years he was a part of the traditional Ethiopian musical troop led by the legendary Tesfaye Lemma. He continues to bring his poly rhythmic efforts to DC based Ethio-World artists like Zedicus and can also be heard on Tommy T’s ‘The Prester John Sessions” CD.
Kaleb Temesgen (E.Guitar)- Kaleb like so many other artists started off as child musician, playing at home.Born in Asmara, Eritrea, Kaleb Temesgen began playing guitar at age nine. As a teenager, he and his older brother, another guitarist, formed their own band covering The Beatles, Eric Clapton and other popular and western classics, as well as traditional African music. Sundays and holidays would find them playing in Church. Soon after, he joined several bands performing at Asmara's night clubs and hotels, where he was known as a guitarist and a composer. In 2000, he was chosen to be the guitarist in a band touring the U.S,. In the intervening years Kaleb has performed with numerous Ethiopian and Eritrean musicians and singers. A true testament to the axiom that music is universal.
Ben Hall (Trombone)- Originally from Baltimore MD, Ben first picked up the trombone at age 11. After playing with friend in local bands, he eventually went to study Music Education at University of Delaware. He furthered his studies at famed Temple University, where he studied improvisation. His scholastic and professional efforts have paid off since then, as evidenced by the sheer number, and caliber of musicians heʼs worked with. To name a few, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Ernie Watts, Denis DiBlasio, Bobby Rydell and Betty Buckley. Some of the places where Ben has performed include Wolftrap Farm Park and the Kennedy Center as well as the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Adams Morgan Festival in Washington D.C. and for Presidentʼs Bush & Clinton's Inaugura- tions. Ben has been a welcome addition to Feedel Band, and he consistently lights up the stage with one of his blistering soloʼs. Currently, Ben and his family live in the Washington D.C. area where he is currently the DC Public
Kenneth Joseph(Drums)- Born in England to Trinidadian parents, Kenneth was exposed to several musical styles at an early age. Just after WW II, his dad was a pioneering innovator in the steel band movement in Trinidad. And in England, he made a seamless progression to the drum set which led to him becoming an in demand session drummer. Kenneth learned drum rudiments as a child and became interested in copying pop beats from the radio. The sounds of Motown, Beatles, Dave Clark 5, and Reggae, all helped shape Ken’s approach to drumming. When his parents relocated to Trinidad, Ken found the lure of steel pan music captivating and joined his dad’s former band, The Trinidad All Stars. In 1980, with this group, he toured the Far East, North America, and, Europe, both as a drummer and a Tenor pan player. After high school he became the resident drummer at the Hilton Hotel in Port of Spain which paved the way for future involvement in group music. In 1982 Ken migrated to Washington DC to study business at Howard University. He managed to continue playing and connected with many of the Caribbean and Ethiopian musicians in the area. Ken backed the big 3 steel pan players in Len “Boogie” Sharpe, Robert Greenidge, and, Andy Narrel. Page 2 of 2Ken also toured the world with the iconic reggae artist Joseph Hill of “Culture”, Mikey Dread, and, backed several first tier reggae artists which culminated in a position with The Original Wailers. Ken backed legendary Mahmoud Ahmed, both, live and in the studio, and is now a permanent member of Feedel Band.
Moges Habte(sax) - Moges is one of the greatest sax players of all time in Ethiopian music history. His contribution to the legendary Walias Band is well known. He has performed with most Ethiopian singers in recent memory. Moges started his musical education at St.Yared Music School in Addis Abeba, and continued his education through a correspondence program of Berklee College of Music. Equally adapted in Flute as he is on his Sax, one can hear him blowing up the Flute on his Solo CD entitled “Kebena Godana”. He is a composer and an arranger. His muscal contributions are too numerous to mention, but classics like “Musicawe Silt” which was first heard played by the Walias, is now covered by several bands, all over the world. He has traveled around the world with singers, such as: Mohamud Ahemed, Tilahun Gessess and other well known Ethiopian singers as well.
Alemseged Kebede(E.Bass) - has influenced most of the new generation of Ethiopian bass players.He first started playing professionally in the late 1970’s with famous singers such as: Tilahun Gessesse, Menilik Wosenachew , Muluken Melese, Aster Aweke and with many more Ethiopian singers in recent memory. After moving to Canada and later to the US, he started playing in local restaurants, and clubs. In addition to bass, he also plays Drums and Keyboards. He has arranged and produced more than 2 albums of his own and played bass almost on every Ethiopian singers music CD’s in recent times. Traveled allover the world and shared the stage with the great African bands like Manu Dibango, Hugh Masakela, and Ellis Marsalis. Alemseged remains a first call musician for many artists, who need his soulful, funky bass lines to complement their music.
Araya Woldemichael(Piano and Organ) - Araya is a founder of a Washington DC based Ethio jazz group called the Feedel band and he is also a direct descendant of a former Ethiopian king "Haile Selassie's family" but he has no close relationship with his royal families and very humble about it. The lost prince started his long musical journey by playing organ at his Church. He added guitar and accordion while still a young boy. later went on studying music in Moscow, and immersed himself in classical music, composition and music theory. After arriving to the US, he quickly started playing with local musicians, in restaurants and clubs. During this period he had an opportunity to play with the likes of Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Tilahun Gessesse and Aster Aweke. Araya is probably best known for his work with Aster Aweke, as he has traveled with her extensively for jazz festivals and World music tours which gave him the opportunity to perform on the same stage with various world music luminaries like Manu Dibango, Hugh Masakela, Ellis Marsalis, King Sunny Ade and others. More recently, Araya was part of the Millennium band that played as an opening act for American pop stars Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas, when they performed in Ethiopia in 2008. He is also a composer, arranger, producer and a band leader. One of his latest popular composition is called "Ethiopian Ocean".
Mikias Abebayehu ( Drummer/percussionist) does not quite do Mikias justice. As a student of music, and jazz improvisation, Mikias has been embedded in the DC based music scene for over 25 years. While still a student, he contributed to Tilahun Gessesse’s self titled double CD release in 1993. Since then Mikias has contributed to the advancement of Ethiopian music, by laying down some incredible rhythms for numerous artists. For several years he was a part of the traditional Ethiopian musical troop led by the legendary Tesfaye Lemma. He continues to bring his poly rhythmic efforts to DC based Ethio-World artists like Zedicus and can also be heard on Tommy T’s ‘The Prester John Sessions” CD.
Kaleb Temesgen (E.Guitar)- Kaleb like so many other artists started off as child musician, playing at home.Born in Asmara, Eritrea, Kaleb Temesgen began playing guitar at age nine. As a teenager, he and his older brother, another guitarist, formed their own band covering The Beatles, Eric Clapton and other popular and western classics, as well as traditional African music. Sundays and holidays would find them playing in Church. Soon after, he joined several bands performing at Asmara's night clubs and hotels, where he was known as a guitarist and a composer. In 2000, he was chosen to be the guitarist in a band touring the U.S,. In the intervening years Kaleb has performed with numerous Ethiopian and Eritrean musicians and singers. A true testament to the axiom that music is universal.
Ben Hall (Trombone)- Originally from Baltimore MD, Ben first picked up the trombone at age 11. After playing with friend in local bands, he eventually went to study Music Education at University of Delaware. He furthered his studies at famed Temple University, where he studied improvisation. His scholastic and professional efforts have paid off since then, as evidenced by the sheer number, and caliber of musicians heʼs worked with. To name a few, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Ernie Watts, Denis DiBlasio, Bobby Rydell and Betty Buckley. Some of the places where Ben has performed include Wolftrap Farm Park and the Kennedy Center as well as the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Adams Morgan Festival in Washington D.C. and for Presidentʼs Bush & Clinton's Inaugura- tions. Ben has been a welcome addition to Feedel Band, and he consistently lights up the stage with one of his blistering soloʼs. Currently, Ben and his family live in the Washington D.C. area where he is currently the DC Public
Kenneth Joseph(Drums)- Born in England to Trinidadian parents, Kenneth was exposed to several musical styles at an early age. Just after WW II, his dad was a pioneering innovator in the steel band movement in Trinidad. And in England, he made a seamless progression to the drum set which led to him becoming an in demand session drummer. Kenneth learned drum rudiments as a child and became interested in copying pop beats from the radio. The sounds of Motown, Beatles, Dave Clark 5, and Reggae, all helped shape Ken’s approach to drumming. When his parents relocated to Trinidad, Ken found the lure of steel pan music captivating and joined his dad’s former band, The Trinidad All Stars. In 1980, with this group, he toured the Far East, North America, and, Europe, both as a drummer and a Tenor pan player. After high school he became the resident drummer at the Hilton Hotel in Port of Spain which paved the way for future involvement in group music. In 1982 Ken migrated to Washington DC to study business at Howard University. He managed to continue playing and connected with many of the Caribbean and Ethiopian musicians in the area. Ken backed the big 3 steel pan players in Len “Boogie” Sharpe, Robert Greenidge, and, Andy Narrel. Page 2 of 2Ken also toured the world with the iconic reggae artist Joseph Hill of “Culture”, Mikey Dread, and, backed several first tier reggae artists which culminated in a position with The Original Wailers. Ken backed legendary Mahmoud Ahmed, both, live and in the studio, and is now a permanent member of Feedel Band.