After a short illness, much beloved and well respected musician Gashe Ayele Mamo sadly passed away in April at the age of 79. A regular artist on the music scene of the 1950ies, Mamo was both an accomplished song writer and a mandolin player. Amazingly self-taught, he began playing the mandolin during the period in Ethiopia which was much influenced by the Italians. The mandolin was an Italian instrument but Ayele Mamo adapted his playing so that the instrument took on the distinct and uniquely melodic sound of the Ethiopian Krar. Whilst passing days quietly at home, he was contacted by a young up and coming musician Girum Mezmir. Girum was a multi skilled musician and had a passion for the accordion; he lamented the loss of the old instruments like the accordion and mandolin which had been so popular earlier in the century. An idea came to his mind to create a band that would acknowledged the era of great Ethiopian music from the 1950ies and 60ies and to bring these sounds and old instruments “back to life”. He sought out special musicians who would help him achieve this vision to life including Ayele who was happily taken out of “retirement; “his mandolin dusted off and a wonderful new musical career relaunched attracting a whole new audience. In 2008 Addis Acoustic Project was the new group that everyone in town wanted to hear and the band quickly found an audience both locally and internationally eager to hear the nostalgic sounds of acoustic Ethiopian jazz. Gashe Ayele Mamo was as much loved as a performer by his fellow musicians as he was by the audience. A gentleman from an earlier era who today will be greatly missed by both the older and younger generation.
May he Rest in Peace.
