ABOUT US
BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE (BJX) is a twelve piece band playing an irresistibly danceable alloy of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st Century groove. Black Jesus Experience’s music reflects the multicultural vibrancy of the band’s hometown, Melbourne, Australia.
Singer Enushu began entertaining her local community as a child in Addis Ababa, migrating to Australia bringing hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by her remarkable life story and the unique vocal traditions of Ethiopia. Enushu is joined on vocals by poetic giant and lyrical miracle Mr Monk, Zimbabwe born and Outback bred.
When not touring BJX run a weekly session at cultural hub The Horn creating new songs live on stage featuring guest, a practice that lies in the improvising traditions of that feed BJX including Hip Hop, Jazz, Azmari and Funk.
BJX’s fourth album ‘Migration’ won ‘The Age-Music Victoria Best Global Album 2014’ award. Their most recent album, ‘To Know Without Knowing’ was The Guardian Jazz Album of the Month, with 4 Star reviews from The Times, Blues + Soul, NPR Radio and more.
Performance highlights for BJX include touring “the Motherland” Ethiopia four times, performing with Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke in Africa (most notably at the United Nations in Addis Ababa commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and The African Union), in Europe and Australia (The Age Best National Tour 2013), and at Glastonbury and other great international festivals.
The rhymes and chimes of Black Jesus Experience deliver the power and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Funk.
BIOGRAPHIES
Enushu Taye (vocals)
Hailing from Ethiopia, Enushu was only a child when she began singing for her local community. In 1992 she was forced to take refuge in Cairo. In 1996 Enushu migrated to Australia bringing to Melbourne her hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by her remarkable life story and the unique vocal traditions of Ethiopia. Enushu co-led the group GOJAM producing two acclaimed albums ‘World In A Jam’ and ‘Back On Earth’.
Mr Monk (MC)
Of Zimbabwean/Australian heritage and known by his peers as the “lyrical miracle”, Monk represents with rhythmic flows, conscious word play and a definitive raw fire on the mike. Monk cut his teeth on stage with the pioneering live multicultural hip-hop band, Culture Connect. No stranger to the club and festival circuit in Australia, he has collaborated and performed with international touring acts Ganga Giri, Grilla Step, producer Mista Savona (Sizzla), Emdee, and jazz prodigy Aaron Choulai lending his powerful and versatile rap stylings to live reggae, jazzy beats, and electronic dance music both on record and at major dance festivals.
Bob Sedergreen (Piano/Keys)
Jazz great Bob Sedergreen listed in the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, winner Ken Myers and Don banks Music Awards.
Toured with Milt Jackson, Nat Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Witherspoon, Phil Woods, represented Australia at European Jazz Festivals with the Brian Brown Quartet, and Montreal International Jazz Festival with Onage.
Led Blues On The Boil and multicultural pioneers Art Attack.
Recorded with Don Burrows, James Morrison, Brian Brown OAM, Allan Brown OAM, Dr Tony Gould and Ted Vining.
Artistic Director of Montsalvat Jazz Festival 1994-92, Adjunct Professor at VCA , Conservatorium of Music (UOM), NMIT and RMIT.
Published music author.
Peter Harper (tenor saxophone)
Harper has been a torch-bearer for the avant-garde on four continents, as an instrumentalist and as an inspirational composer, since the early 1980’s. His searingly powerful sound manifests his longtime dedication to the practice of overtones and musical studies under Ratu Pandji, and the great Evan Parker. He has performed and recorded worldwide with Musiikki Oy, Steve Lacy, House Arrest (Paul Grabowsky), The Australian Art Orchestra, Mulatu Astatke, Egypt 80, Night Z, Something Else, Where’s Henry, The Big One, GOJAM and BLOW.
Ian Dixon (trumpet & flugelhorn)
Extensive travel and study of birdsong informs Ian Dixon’s unique approach to improvisation and composition. Ian co-led ground breaking jazz-hiphop band ‘UTE’ in Australia and in London during the 1980’s and 90’s and is privileged to have worked with many great jazz, classical and contemporary artists in Australia, UK/Europe, America and Africa, including close working relationships with Ethiopian master musician Mulatu Astatke, with iconic German musician Irmin Schmidt (‘Can’) and Kumo, Guru (Keith Elam), Egypt 80, Tim Bowness & ‘No Man’, Max Romeo, ‘Musiikki-Oy/BLOW’, Paul Chivers aka ‘Ramjac’, Dale Barlow and Ray Vega amongst others.
Zac Lister (guitar)
Zac was obsessed with the guitar from a young age, out of this grew a passion for percussive acoustic guitar styles and the raw sound of early funk, soul and blues. Born in Tasmania, Zac’s musical roots were cultivated by his natural surroundings and a deeply supportive musical community where he began writing songs, playing in bands and performing solo with an acoustic guitar. Zac’s drive to expand his musical horizons saw him migrate north seeking out fresh challenges and diverse cultural experiences. The powerful funky African rhythms drew Zac to the Black Jesus Experience and continue to inspire him with their steadfast passion for music, culture and food.
Richard Rose (electric bass)
Richard has just joined Black Jesus Experience and in an instant changed the gravity of the band with his no bullshit, supremely funky hold on the bottom end. Yeah Rich, welcome aboard.
James Davies (drums)
Starting his musical journey at a young age in Northern Victoria, James Davies moved to Melbourne to pursue a career and undertake a BMus at Box Hill Institute. While studying with some of Melbourne’s finest teachers, including Tony Floyd and Robi Parolin, playing in a variety of bands saw James develop a widely informed stylistic approach in any genre. Blending the rhythms of North Africa with Jazz, Drum&Bass and Funk in BJX is the rhythmic epitome of his experience. Outside of BJX, James has worked with some of Melbourne’s leading Jazz musicians including: Bob Venier, Geoff Kluke, & Craig Schneider.
Kahan Harper (percussion)
Percussionist Kahan Harper is the youngest full time member of Black Jesus Experience.
At the age of 12 Kahan began touring with Mulatu Astatke.
He has studied drums with Australian jazz legend Ted Vining, hand drums with master musician Lamine Sonko and piano with national treasure Bobby Sedergreen.