Hailu Mergia, Wallias Band – Tezeta

"Tezeta," the second album by legendary Ethiopian jazz and funk band Hailu Mergia & The Walias Band, was untraceable for nearly three decades after its release in 1975. Only available as a cassette-only release at the time, "Tezeta" was distributed by the band exclusively in their own music store in downtown Addis Ababa

"Tezeta" was recorded at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa, where Hailu Mergia & The Walias Band were active as a house band in the mid-1970s, entertaining some of the most influential figures in African and international culture and politics with their funky tunes

At the time of recording, in addition to Hailu Mergia, the Walias Band consisted of Moges Habte (saxophone and flute), Mahmoud Aman (guitar), Yohannes Tekola (trumpet), Melake Gebre (bass guitar), Girma Beyene (piano), Temare Haregu (drums) and Abebe Kassa (alto saxophone)