Allwhere by Ancestor Energy

This is transgressive, affirming and hopeful "stuff" under the

cloud of what is probably another Dark Age. AncestorEnergy comes through us, not from us.

In present time, AncestorEnergy began at the AfricanAmerican Cultural Center in the late 70s during what

I consider the 2nd Black Renaissance known as the Black Arts Movement. It began with composer/pianist

Carei Thomas, master-musician saxophonist David Wright and myself, Louis Alemayehu, in Minneapolis,

Minnesota. We began with a request to do a fundraiser for Minnesota's Farm Labor Association. There

was one "rehearsal" of sorts. Carei and David listened to the poems. I talked to them about the music

I listened to when I was writing, or songs and rhythms that came up for me when I recited these poems.

I tapped out the rhythms on which I hung my words and phrases. AncestorEnergy musicians are most

often thoughtful, precise and spontaneous. We live in the Fire, are transformed in that element and hunger

to touch each of you - man, woman, child, "stranger" or neighbor - in the spirit of Tikun Olam, a Jewish

concept which means to heal the World.

I think, in part, because the three of us came from Chicago, there was a common musical/cultural frame

of reference. We communicated in short hand. We could feel one another and the music and poetry "just

happened". We have followed that pattern of little to no rehearsal and have been joined over the years by

some incredible musicians. They have included: Gary Schulte, Donald Washington, mick laBriola, Jeroen

van Tyn, David Edminster, George Parker, Jose F. James, Maisah Blanton, Jeff Bailey, Kevin Washington,

Carl Adams and many, many more. Despite my words and Carei's musical direction, this performance

group would not have been possible without everyone's contribution.

mick laBriola and his son Diego (a young ancestor now) played a special role in making this CD happen.

Diego's early departure from the physical plane, as it pierced his father's heart also inspired him to be

an insistent driving force behind the birth of this first AncestorEnergy CD. Diego's spirit, among other

Ancestors, is in this CD.

1) Invocation

2) Remembering Elsa Rezene

from the poems An Apartment on Lake Street and

Power in the Blood. Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit by Mc-

Coy Tyner & Joony Booth.

Also, Louis Alemayehu and AncestorEnergy

3) Heart Song for Our Father

Dedicated to Elmer Jones

Composer: Carei F. Thomas

4) For My Bro

Dedicated to Topper

Composers: Carei F. Thomas & AncestorEnergy

5) Portrait of Carmen McRae

Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk

Violin and Wordless Vocals - Jeroen van Tyn

6) Africans in the Snow

Composer: mick laBriola

7) Meditation on My Mother

Dedicated to Jeanette Wood Jones

Home Clean by Carei F. Thomas

Violin - Gary Schulte

8) Father Guide Me

Nys by Carei F. Thomas

Tenor Saxophone - Donald Washington

Soprano Saxophone - David Wright III

9) That Evening in the Kitchen

Composers: Carei F. Thomas & AncestorEnergy

Vocals - Maisah Blanton,

Vocals with Violin - Jeroen van Tyn

10) Crazy Eyes, No Boundaries

Composers: Louis Alemayehu & AncestorEnergy

Contrabass - Jeff Bailey

Percussion Section & Kit - mick laBriola

11) All Love is Sacred

Touching by David Edminster

Violin - Gary Schulte

12) Seeds of War

In a Silent Way by Josef Zawinul,

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane and

This Allegiance by Carei F. Thomas

Soprano Saxophone - David Wright III

Roland JD800 Synthesizer and Realistic

Concertmate 350 Mini-Keyboard - Carei F. Thomas

13) Song of the Blackstone Pipe /

We are the River

Dedicated to Amos Owen and the people of the

Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Reservation

Composer: Gary Schulte

Alexs Pate on AncestorEnergy

The musical compositions are brilliant; Carei Thomas has scaled the heights and brings back proof. The

gathered musical talent (Donald Washington, David Wright, Gary Schulte, Mick LaBriola, Jeroen van Tyn,

Jeff Bailey) speak back to the composition with stunning performances. Louis Alemayehu's poetry and voice

and voice work is possessed, spirited; functioning precisely the way it should. Leading us through those

labyrinths of discovery. Guiding us. Haunting us. By the time we are asked to remember "That Evening in

the Kitchen," with additional voices by Maisah Blanton and Jeroen van Tyn, I am willing to follow him/them

anywhere. There are favorites lined up waiting for you here. But be soul prepared. This is true flight.

Destination: Allwhere.

Alexs D. Pate is a Visiting Assistant Professor of African American and African studies at the University of Minnesota

and author of the novels Amistad, West of Rehoboth, Losing Absalom, the Multicultiboho Sideshow and Finding

Makeba.

From early on, Carei Thomas and I have been in accord with the conviction that the AncestorEnergy presence

in the community, in the world, was about healing. Over the years we have performed for African

Liberation, Native American sovereignty, women's rights, peace and justice, the Latin American New Song

Movement, multicultural education and community building. A significant part of what AncestorEnergy

evolved into was the result of ceremonies that took place on the Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota

(Sioux) Reservation in the early 1980's at the homestead of Dakota elder, the late Amos Owen. The foundation

of our identity was then set with Song of the Blackstone Pipe: We are the River. The creation of that

poem is a story all by itself, long and mystical with prophetic overtones!

Collectively, we have never been about doing gigs or moving product. We, through words and music, have

reflected the Buddhist insights that there is no separation between mind and body or human beings and

their environment. No separation! This current CD, our first, comes from two things: 1) Feeling the need

to document what we have been doing. After all, we ain't getting no younger! And 2) the feeling of many

in our community that what we do needs to be heard NOW! and more than ever. If that is true, here it is

- AncestorEnergy: Allwhere.

Louis Alemayehu

October 4, 2004

ALL POEMS BY LOUIS ALEMAYEHU

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