Gogol Bordello’s Tommy T goes solo
Tommy T is the bassist for Gogol Bordello. Come November 10th, he’ll also officially be a solo artist.
On that day, Ethiopian-born musician will unveil The Prester John Sessions, a collection of 11 tracks that blends “Ethiopian modes with dub reggae, funk, and jazz, for a sound that’s at once familiar and mysterious.” Basically, the album tells the story of a Christian patriarch named Prester John, who Tommy discovered in Graham Hancock’s book The Sign and the Seal.
“Hancock was looking for the Biblical Ark of the Covenant,” Tommy explains in an issued press release. “His quest led him around the world, from the Middle East to Europe and back to Ethiopia. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Prester John was an unknown Christian king with massive troops that got the attention of European kings. Prester John is the character I use to symbolize the man who will bring Ethiopian culture to the rest of the world.”
To accomplish this vision, Tommy began researching Ethiopian folk music, choosing melodies he could improvise on, and hit the studio with his brother Henock. Gogol Bordello bandmates Eugene Hutz and Pedro Erazo also lent their musician talents, while Michael Goldwasser of the Easy Star All-Stars handled the mixing. Ultimately, Tommy notes, they came up with an album that will do a bit of educating.
“The Prester John Sessions will give people an idea about the musical diversity of Ethiopia, which includes influences and ideas borrowed from the sounds of the 70’s with the added bonus of up-to-date production values.”
Pick the The Prester John Sessions up beginning November 10th via Easy Star Records. If you want an early listen, however, the album is currently available for download on iTunes.
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