Imperial Tiger Orchestra are Raphaël Anker (tp), Alexandre Rodrigues (rhodes, key), John Menoud (sax), Cyril Moulas (b), Luc Détraz (per) and Julien Israelian (d), from Geneva, Switzerland. The orchestra's repertoire consists of revamped remakes from the Golden Age of modern Ethiopian music (1969-1978).Visiting each of the foremost artists of period in turn, the orchestra blends Ethiopian rhythms with their own influences. Playing music that is usually sung, this entirely instrumental group emphasizes the dark and hypnotic grooves of the rhythmn as well as the polished, ethereal brass themes. Improvisations, a play on texture and dynamics, distorted sounds and "noise" complete the whole. More information fron their label Mental Groove Records or on their website http://www.myspace.com/imperialtigerorchestra.
