Hailu Mergia and the Dahlak Band came out of the Ethiopian jazz scene of 1970s Addis Ababa, led by keyboardist and accordionist Hailu Mergia. His cassette-era recordings — start with Wede Harer Guzo (1978) — have been reissued by Awesome Tapes from Africa since 2013, fueling a late-career revival. Browse Hailu Mergia and Dahlak Band vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Hailu Mergia and the Dahlak Band emerged from the broader Ethiopian jazz scene that flourished in 1970s Addis Ababa around the Walias Band and other groups associated with the Hilton Hotel and the Soul Ekos Band. Mergia, a keyboardist and accordionist, immigrated to the United States in the early 1980s with members of the Walias Band, settling in Washington D.C. where he drove a taxi for decades while continuing musical work. Awesome Tapes from Africa launched a comprehensive reissue program of Mergia's 1970s and 1980s cassette recordings beginning in 2013, leading to a sustained late-career revival including new touring and recording.
Hailu Mergia and the Dahlak Band's sound combines Ethiopian jazz (ethio-jazz), Ethiopian folk, world music, jazz fusion, and Afro-jazz with Mergia's distinctive electric piano, organ, accordion, and synthesizer work alongside the broader Ethiopian jazz aesthetic associated with Mulatu Astatke and the Walias Band.
Awesome Tapes from Africa pressings of the Hailu Mergia catalog have been issued in color variant editions through the label's comprehensive reissue program.
Listeners new to Hailu Mergia typically start with Wede Harer Guzo (1978, reissue) or Lala Belu (2018).
