The Bombillas - Sema's Walk b/w Mawasa [7" Vinyl]

Digging into the vault, The Bombillas have unearthed two previously unreleased tracks: "Sema's Walk" b/w "Mawasa." These songs were written and initially recorded shortly after the release of their first 45, "Tortuga b/w Kings Up," in 2017, however, they were not fully completed until late 2024. This new 7-inch features a more mellow Ethiopian jazz aesthetic, utilizing a larger ensemble that includes additional percussion, flute, and horns to the more recent Bombillas lineup you might be familiar with.

On Side A, "Sema's Walk" establishes a steady 2-step 6/8 feel, driven by David Michael Celia on drums, Aquiles "Lito" Magaña on rhythm guitar, Steve Haney on percussion, and Josh Wiener on bass. Together, this core group creates a hypnotic groove, allowing the melodic tapestry to blossom. Celia leads the melodic elements, overdubbed on a Wurlitzer 200a, with contributions from Jesse Audelo on flute, Ian Anderson on saxophone, and Greg Zilboorg on trumpet bring a cinematic element to their interwoven melodies gracefully interacting with the steady bass pattern.

On the flip side, we find "Mawasa," which draws inspiration from one of the legends of Ethiopian jazz, Mulatu Astatke. The Bombillas utilize the Tizita scale in their own way, again led by Ian Anderson on saxophones and Jesse Audelo on flute, this track features David Michael Celia on drums, vibraphone, and Wurlitzer, alongside a steady instrumental backdrop provided by Aquiles "Lito" Magaña on guitar, Steve Haney on percussion, and Josh Wiener on bass. This collective of original and new Bombillas members brings back their eclectic sound and inspirations.