Back Bands

UKANDANZ / éthiopian crunch

New album : War Pigs April 18th

Aesthetes know it very well. Whether in music or alcohol, craziest mixtures can create the strongest emotions. Ukandanz cocktail proved it already, yet it is coming back again with an explosive formula. Ethiopia’s ancient beats keeps being shaken by garage rock and libertarian jazz… If you wondered if the Swinging Addis’ heart was still beating, we know who is handling the electroshock therapy nowadays!

During a dozen years of trips and five albums, Ukandanz gained a reputation in the world of globalized music. The band is back for a new epic towards the sources of its music. The modern cantor and electric griot Asnake Gebreyes is pointing the direction to a musicians’ pack in working order to agitate a bit more the trip between France and Ethiopia. Those love as much getting lost in crossroads as gathering together in detours… Even if they have no sense of direction, they have the sense of epic!

The fuel of this modern trance’s machine remains in the Ethiopic soul, with two fundamental elements: the elastic voice of one of the greatest figure of the present Addis Adeba’s scene (Asnake Gebreyes) and the compositions of Damien Cluzel, who is never more comfortable than experiencing musical or cultural crossovers. As far as the physical existence of the band is concerned, the bodies exult in rock’s energies and in improvisation’s catharsis (and vice versa).

Damien Cluzel switches from guitar to bass without losing any electricity and he opens up a new field of possibilities in terms of composition. The lifelong partner Lionel Martin blows hot and cold with a sound footprint that irradiates up to the silences that come along. Fred Escoffier, keyboarder who has proved his rhythmical solidity with the fine flower of French jazz, comes back with his virtuosity and his appetite for unfettered improvisation. It is up to the rookie Thomas Pierre, tremendous drummer with a wide range of shades, to complete the polyrhythmic edifice in order to support an abundant music, between structures inspired by traditions and controlled slides coming from modernity.

© Amaury Rullière

Playlist / UKANDANZ _ KEMEKEM

Back Bands

UKANDANZ / éthiopian crunch

New album : War Pigs April 18th

Aesthetes know it very well. Whether in music or alcohol, craziest mixtures can create the strongest emotions. Ukandanz cocktail proved it already, yet it is coming back again with an explosive formula. Ethiopia’s ancient beats keeps being shaken by garage rock and libertarian jazz… If you wondered if the Swinging Addis’ heart was still beating, we know who is handling the electroshock therapy nowadays!

During a dozen years of trips and five albums, Ukandanz gained a reputation in the world of globalized music. The band is back for a new epic towards the sources of its music. The modern cantor and electric griot Asnake Gebreyes is pointing the direction to a musicians’ pack in working order to agitate a bit more the trip between France and Ethiopia. Those love as much getting lost in crossroads as gathering together in detours… Even if they have no sense of direction, they have the sense of epic!

The fuel of this modern trance’s machine remains in the Ethiopic soul, with two fundamental elements: the elastic voice of one of the greatest figure of the present Addis Adeba’s scene (Asnake Gebreyes) and the compositions of Damien Cluzel, who is never more comfortable than experiencing musical or cultural crossovers. As far as the physical existence of the band is concerned, the bodies exult in rock’s energies and in improvisation’s catharsis (and vice versa).

Damien Cluzel switches from guitar to bass without losing any electricity and he opens up a new field of possibilities in terms of composition. The lifelong partner Lionel Martin blows hot and cold with a sound footprint that irradiates up to the silences that come along. Fred Escoffier, keyboarder who has proved his rhythmical solidity with the fine flower of French jazz, comes back with his virtuosity and his appetite for unfettered improvisation. It is up to the rookie Thomas Pierre, tremendous drummer with a wide range of shades, to complete the polyrhythmic edifice in order to support an abundant music, between structures inspired by traditions and controlled slides coming from modernity.

© Amaury Rullière

Line Up

Asnaké Gebreyes : lead vocal
Lionel Martin : tenor sax
Damien Cluzel : bass
Fred Escofier : keyboards
Thomas Pierre : drums

Contact

Thibault Gléréan _ Palmier Rouge (France, Europe) : tib@palmier-rouge.com

Norbert Hausen _ Jazzhaus (GAS, Europe) : hausen@jazzhausartists.com

Contact Booking

Concert / UKANDANZ tour

29 march 2025 | Kufstein - Kufstein 30 march 2025 | Salam music festival - Vienna 05 april 2025 | Magyar Zene Háza - Budapest 18 april 2025 | Le FIL - Saint-étienne
  • uKanDanZ - Tchuhetén Betsèmu (clip)
  • UKANDANZ Ferjign Chereka ፍረጂኝ ጨረቃ / Moon Stroke _ CLIP
  • Gedawo _ acoustic session
  • fr
  • en