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Kirubel Assefa Announced New Jazz Album T.A.B.A.

The Los Angeles-based artist blends traditional Ethiopian modes with global rhythms in an upcoming 11-track collection.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Jazz

Graphic illustration of a brass saxophone bell with abstract gold and teal geometric rhythmic patterns, reflecting Ethio-jazz musical fusion.
Composer and producer Kirubel Assefa will release his new 11-track jazz collection, T.A.B.A., on November 20, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Composer and producer Kirubel Assefa has announced his upcoming album, T.A.B.A., which is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. The new project features 11 original compositions that integrate Ethiopian musical modes with jazz, funk, and global rhythms.

Why it matters

The album serves as a continuation of Ethio-jazz during a period when the genre's founding generation is leaving the stage. It bridges traditional sounds with contemporary influences, preserving a legacy that originated in Addis Ababa in the late 1960s.

The album T.A.B.A. includes 11 compositions produced by Kirubel Assefa. The work features four distinct Ethiopian musical modes: Tizita, Ambasel, Bati, and Anchihoye.

The players

Kirubel Assefa

He is a composer, producer, and bassist who co-founded the Lasta Sound project in Los Angeles.

Ethio Jazz Factory

This is the record label responsible for the release of the upcoming album.

The details

Kirubel Assefa, a Los Angeles-based musician who previously performed with legends like Tilahun Gessesse and Aster Aweke, recorded and produced the entire project himself. The collection sets Ethiopian modes in conversation with funk, Afro-Cuban, reggae, and West African rhythmic styles, with mixing performed by Kris Jackson and mastering by Raymond Valles.

Timeline

  1. Ethio-jazz originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

  2. Dr. Tilahun Gessesse died in 2009.

  3. Alemayehu Eshete died in 2021.

  4. Mulatu Astatke completed his farewell tour in late 2025.

  5. The album T.A.B.A. will be released on November 20, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The album emerges as the foundational generation of Ethio-jazz, including artists like Mulatu Astatke who completed his farewell tour in late 2025, exits the global stage. This release positions the Ethio Jazz Factory to carry the genre's legacy forward into a new era.

Listeners can access the new compositions through the Ethio Jazz Factory starting in late November 2026. Fans of global fusion and jazz can look to the label's official channels for pre-order information and platform availability.

The takeaway

This album demonstrates how modern producers are blending traditional musical modes with international genres to keep historical sounds relevant for new audiences. Fans can look for how the integration of four distinct modes creates a unified sound across the 11 tracks.

What happens next

The album T.A.B.A. is scheduled for a wide release on November 20, 2026.

Further reading

Explore the evolving sounds of the genre on our Jazz page.

More information

Find release updates and additional project information on the Ethio Jazz Factory official website.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.

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