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Hermon Mehari

In the attempt to pioneer a new sound while exploring his Eritrean origins, trumpeter Hermon Mehari composed an album entirely influenced by the harmonies, rhythms, and melodies of Eritrean music. However this work, "Asmara" (Komos), doesn't only come from his musical side-- the songs have an emotional bent and express the different aspects of his perspectives towards his relationship with family and the culture. The compositions are interpreted with personality and fervor by pianist/vibraphonist Peter Schlamb, bassist Luca Fattorini, and drummer Gautier Garrigue. Mehari brings on legendary Eritrean vocalist Faytinga as a guest on two numbers.

Hermon Mehari’s 2020 sophomore album as a leader, “A Change For the Dreamlike” (MiRR), takes on a more personal tone. Written and recorded in a barn in the French countryside during le confinement, it shows only hints at the aesthetic set by his previous debut album. The project features a number of incredible musicians: Tony Tixier, Peter Schlamb, Ryan J. Lee, Kae Dilla, DeAndre Manning, Hugo LX, Karl McComas-Reichl, Jeff Hill and Zach Morrow.  Although he already had a growing reputation, the success of Mehari's debut album ,"Bleu", put him concretely on the musical map in 2017. “Bleu” includes ECM recording artist Aaron Parks on piano, Blue Note recording artist Logan Richardson on alto saxophone, Peter Schlamb on vibraphone, Ryan J. Lee on drums and Rick Rosato on bass.

Mehari was the winner of the 2015 Carmine Caruso International Trumpet Competition and a semifinalist in the 2014 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. In 2014 he released the CD "Our Journey" with Diverse, his second with the group. Mehari maintains a touring schedule around the world with his own group and as a sideman. Mehari was also the winner of the 2008 National Trumpet Competition and placed 2nd in the International Trumpet Guild competition in Sydney, Australia. As a founding member of Diverse, whose eponymous debut album on Seattle-based Origin Records reached the Top 40 on the Jazzweek Radio Charts, he has performed professionally with noted saxophonists Jaleel Shaw, Logan Richardson, Bobby Watson, Ben Van Gelder, and Tivon Pennicott. He has also performed with Aaron Parks, Joe Sanders, Hubert Laws, Randy Brecker, Tony Tixier, Dave Pietro, Clay Jenkins and many other great musicians.

Hermon Mehari received his BM in Jazz Performance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance in 2010. In addition to performing, he dedicates himself to being a serious educator, runs a weekly musical radio program called "The Session" on the NPR-affiliated station KCUR 89.3, is an artistic director of the Collectif MiRR and has participated in arts related clinics and panels around the world. 


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Catching Up With

Hermon Mehari: American Jazz, Eritrean Echoes

Read "Hermon Mehari: American Jazz, Eritrean Echoes" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


Award-winning trumpeter, composer and educator Hermon Mehari is a modern day Renaissance Master. Born in the United States of Eritrean parents who were refugees, Mehari has brilliantly crafted a musical presence and branding that melds American jazz and its deep traditions with Eritrean overtones. A true visionary, Mehari has recorded a handful of highly-acclaimed albums, including Asmara (Komos Records, 2022) hosts a live radio show, teaches and tours worldwide as both leader and sideman. He currently resides in Paris, France. ...

Album Review

Hermon Mehari, Alessandro Lanzoni: Arc Fiction

Read "Arc Fiction" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Dopo aver lavorato assieme in altri contesti--per esempio nel progetto di Michelangelo Scandroglio In the Eyes of Whales--Alessandro Lanzoni e Hermon Mehari registrano un lavoro in duo, undici brani originali (solo “Donna Lee" di Charlie Parker è un omaggio alla tradizione) e in larga misura improvvisati. Il disco ha inevitabilmente un'andamento cameristico, ma la varietà stilistica, la libertà dell'interazione musicale e l'ampio uso dell'improvvisazione, lo tengono lontano da ogni cliché. L'apertura è con un brano a firma del ...

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Album Review

Arbenz, Mehari, Veras: Conversation #1: Condensed

Read "Conversation #1: Condensed" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


One of the most appealing aspects in jazz is the interplay among musicians in a group. There is usually a continuous musical conversation occurring during any given session, which adds an element of spontaneity. Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz is concentrating on this concept of conversation in his upcoming releases, beginning with Conversation #1: Condensed. Arbenz has established himself as one of the foremost drummers in Europe. He has recorded and performed with numerous artists during his career, including ...

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My Playlist

Hermon Mehari: gli album che sto ascoltando

Read "Hermon Mehari: gli album che sto ascoltando" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


1. Logan Richardson, Afrofuturism, (Whirlwind Recordings, 2021). Forse il musicista che mi ha ispirato di più ha da poco pubblicato un disco eclettico. Mi piace il fatto che non abbia paura di abbracciare i suoni moderni e si senta libero di esprimersi come vuole. 2. Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um, (Columbia Records, 1959). Lo stavo riascoltando di recente perché ho suonato un concerto con questo repertorio. Ogni brano è un classico, ogni melodia vive ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Hermon Mehari, Ezra Collective, Zappa for piano & New Releases

Read "Hermon Mehari, Ezra Collective, Zappa for piano & New Releases" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


The fusion of different musical cultures and genres is at the heart of this edition of Mondo Jazz, where the works of Frank Zappa are given the solo piano treatment by Dave Hartl, Mats Öberg and Stefano Bollani, where a Kansas City expat in Paris, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, explores both his Eritrean roots and his urban inclinations, where the global music of Ajoyo finds its match in the Mathis Sound Orchestra, and where the cutting edge Ezra Collective looks back ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Hermon Mehari, Mose Allison, Jason Palmer and More

Read "Hermon Mehari, Mose Allison, Jason Palmer and More" reviewed by Joe Dimino


Neon Jazz has spent the last three months interviewing jazz musicians from around the globe on how they are dealing with this global pandemic. This week we open with a trumpeter that has deep Kansas City roots and now resides in Paris. Hermon Mehari released his new album A Change for the Dreamlike and we profile it. We also look into new music from Tom Wright, Mike Casey and Jason Palmer. Enjoy the jazz, my friends. Playlist Hermon ...

Album Review

Michelangelo Scandroglio: In the Eyes of the Whale

Read "In the Eyes of the Whale" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Tra i non pochi nuovi talenti che la penisola sforna nel campo del jazz, un posto di rilievo spetta al ventiquattrenne contrabbassista toscano Michelangelo Scandroglio, qui alla prima prova da leader alla testa di una formazione internazionale a struttura variabile composta da giovani talenti. Il programma del disco prevede sette composizioni originali, tutte a firma di Scandroglio, che uniscono virtuosamente molteplici influenze del jazz contemporaneo, recuperando anche qualche eredità di rock, prog e minimalismo. La formazione base è ...

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Award / Grant

2015 Jazz Palette Composition Contest Winners Announced

2015 Jazz Palette Composition Contest Winners Announced

Source: Artists Recording Collective, LLC

The American Jazz Museum is proud to present the winning compositions from our Jazz Palette composition contest in a special performance by the Hermon Mehari Quintet in the Blue Room, Monday, April 20, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. “The opportunity to combine another public program such as this type of event with our current exhibition in the Changing Gallery, entitled Jazz Then And Now, is always great. It is also another true representation of the diversity of generations creating the music," ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Asmara

Self Produced
2022

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Conversation #1:...

Hammer Recordings
2021

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In the Eyes of the...

Auand Records
2020

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A Change For The...

Self Produced
2020

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I Ain't Got Nothin'...

Fresh Sound Records
2018

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Videos

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