በjazz ሙዝቃ ስሙ እየገነነ ያለው የሃዋሳው ልጅ፦ ዮሃንስ ጦና

A native of Ethiopia and now a veteran of the local jazz and gospel scene, bassist Yohannes Tona is featured on the next Jazz at Studio Z ("Made in Abyssinia") on May 10th. His trio (Geoff LeCrone on guitar, Shai Hayo on percussion) will present an open, free workshop at 6 pm, followed by the concert ($10 admission) at 7 pm, both in the Studio Z performance space on the second floor of the Northwestern Building in St. Paul's Lowertown.

Yohannes Tona grew up in Awassa in southern Ethiopia, the son of a church organist (father) and vocalist (mother). Studying guitar and then bass in his homeland, he attended Yared, Ethiopia’s lone music school, at sixteen. Yohannes moved on to music studies in the capitol city of Addis, then emigrated in the late 1990s to the U.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music. A few yeas later he was recruited to serve as music director for the Ethiopian Church in Minneapolis. Here he has played with the Grammy-nominated Excelsior Choir , Dr. Mambo’s Combo, Darnell Davis and the Remnant Gospel Group, Nachito Herrera, Kevin Washington, Doug Little, #Mpls, and Foreign Motion. He's also performed with top area vocalists including T. Mychal Rambo, Bruce Henry, Debbie Duncan, and Sounds of Blackness. In addition to leading the Yohannes Tona Band, Yohannes also works as a producer and/or performer with Timotha Lanae, Desdamona, Alicia Wiley, Stokley Williams, Ann Nesby, Jef Lee Johnson, and Benoit Delbecq.

Geoff LeCrone ©Andrea Canter

Yohannes released his first recording in 2007. Sand From the Desert, which Tona dedicated to his mother in Ethiopia, included drummers Stokely Williams (Mint Condition) and Wendell Henry, pianist Nachito Herrera, trumpeters Dave Jensen and John Raymond, tenor saxophonist Jorga Mesfin, guitarist Andres Prado, vocalists Hana Shenkute, Kenn Wannaku and Aimee Bryant, spoken word specialist Shá Cage, and the gospel group Darnell Davis and the Remnant. He is currently focusing on the release of his second album, 13 , featuring his band as well as the premiere of his Made In Abyssinia project -- a bass and drum duo rooted in traditional African grooves and melodies.

Geoff LeCrone earned his degrees in Music and Economics from St. Thomas University, where he studied guitar with Joan Griffith. Even before graduation, Geoff was busy gigging around the Twin Cities, featured in a long list of musical theater productions, accompanying vocalists Debbie Duncan and Arne Fogel, and perofrming with the Kevin Washington Quartet and Acme Jazz Company.

Shai Hayo ©Andrea Canter

Shai Hayo is a percussionist and educator who specializes in traditional and contemporary drumming styles of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean and West Africa. He has performed and taught nationally and internationally, sharing the stage with Tony Orlando, Ann Margaret, Sheila E., Nachito Herrera, Sowah Mensah, Shi-Daa Cultural Troupe, Salsa del Soul, The Macalester College African Music Ensemble, the Minnesota Orchestra, and recently, Paul Anka. An experienced language instructor, Shai teaches Spanish in the Liberal Arts division at McNally Smith College of Music. He's conducted anthropological and ethnomusicological research in Puerto Rico (1994 – 1995) and Ghana, West Africa (1998).

Made in Abyssinia

Abyssinia is one of the earlier names used for the land around the Horn of Africa, most of which is currently known as Ethiopia. Its culture and music include elements from the area extending from across the Red Sea down through the Rift Valley and all the way to Mali. However, some scales and rhythm remain indigenous to the mainland of Ethiopia. Tona's exploration goes even deeper in emulating the characters of traditional instruments and some vocal chanting.

Jazz at Studio Z is curated by Zacc Harris and brings jazz performances and workshops to Studio Z almost every month. Tickets $10 for concerts which begin at 7 pm, following a free workshop at 6 pm. Advance tickets at http://www.studiozstpaul.com/jazz-at-studio-z-may-10.php. The last concert of the season will be June 14, featuring Next Generations - three bands including Steve Kenny's Group 47 (LP Release), No Coast Quintet and Kevin Gastonguay Trio.

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