Black Jesus Experience Explained

Black Jesus Experience
Alias:	BJX
Origin:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genre:	Ethio-jazz
Years Active:	–present
Associated Acts:	Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed, Bob Sedergreen, Blow
Current Members:	Enushu Taye Peter Harper Ian Dixon Liam Monkhouse Richard Rose James Davies Zac Lister Larry Crestani Bob Sedergreen Kahan Harper
Past Members:	Chris Frangou Matt Head Patrick Kearney Cass Horsfall Hue Blanes Nashua Lee Nui Moon Stuart Perera

Black Jesus Experience are a nine piece Ethio-jazz band based in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2009 they have been best known for collaborations with Mulatu Astatke as well as a growing discography of independent work.^[1] Black Jesus Experience blend traditional Ethiopian music with hip-hop and funk.^[2]

In June 2009 they appeared on a segment of Sunday Arts, which was broadcast nationally by ABC-TV. They are winners of The Ages "Best Tour 2010" award for their Australian tour with Astatke.^[3]

Black Jesus Experience have played numerous festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Big Chill, City of London Festival, WOMADelaide, The Big Day Out and Melbourne Jazz Festival, supported Tony Allen and toured Europe and Ethiopia.^[4]

Their fourth album, Migration. received the 'Best Global/Reggae album' accolade at The Ages 2014 Music Victoria awards.^[5]

In 2016, Black Jesus Experience released their fifth studio album, Cradle of Humanity, a collaboration with Mulatu Astatke, followed by an Australian and New Zealand tour including the 2016 Melbourne Jazz Festival.^[6]

On July 3, 2020 Black Jesus Experience released their second collaborative album with Mulatu Astatke entitled To Know Without Knowing following a 2019 Australian tour. The album received critical acclaim, vocals by Taye were hailed 'mesmerising' and the album deemed an 'irresistible collective effort'.

Black Jesus Experience currently hold a weekly residence at Melbourne's The Horn African Cafe and Restaurant performing their catalogue each Sunday as well as holding regular live concerts across Melbourne.

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details
Black Jesus Experience	Released: 2008 Label: BJX (BJX 01)
Dark Light	Released: 2009 Label: BJX (BJX 02)
Yeluinta	Released: 2010 Label: BJX (BJX 03)
Migration	Released: 2014 Label: BJX (BJX 04)
Cradle of Humanity (with Mulatu Astatke)	Released: 2016 Label: BJX (BJX 05)
To Know Without Knowing (with Mulatu Astatke)	Released: 2020 Label: BJX (BJX 06)
Good Evening Black Buddha	Released: 2022 Label: BJX (BJX 06)

Awards and nominations

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

! |-| rowspan="2"| 2014| rowspan="2"| Migration| Best Global or Reggae Album| | ^[7] |-| Best Jazz Album| | rowspan="2"| ^[8] |-| 2016| Cradle of Humanity| Best Global or Reggae Album| |-| 2020| Black Jesus Experience| Best Intercultural Act| | ^{[9] [10]} |-| 2021| Black Jesus Experience| Best Intercultural Act| | ^{[11] [12]} |-| 2022| Black Jesus Experience| MAV Diasporas Award| | ^[13] |-| 2023| Black Jesus Experience| MAV Diasporas Award| | ^[14] |-

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mulatu Astatke at World Music Expo . Nicholas, Jessica . . . 22 November 2011 . 8 July 2015 .
2. Web site: Moving to the rhythm of life . Power, Liza . Fairfax Media . The Age . 15 June 2009 . 8 July 2015 .
3. Web site: The Black Jesus Experience . Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . Daily Planet . 24 March 2011 . 8 July 2015 .
4. Web site: Mulatu Astatke (Ethiopia) with the Black Jesus Experience . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110524140100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/42195/20110525-0001/www.melbournejazz.com/v2010_archived/webpages/event41ef.html . dead . 24 May 2011 . . Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2010 . 8 May 2010 . 8 July 2015 .
5. Web site: Victoria's outstanding talent recognised at The Age Music Victoria Genre Awards . Boulton, Martin . Fairfax Media . The Age . 16 October 2014 . 8 July 2015 .
6. Web site: History Melbourne International Jazz Festival. melbournejazz.com. 2017-04-07.
7. Web site: Previous Winners. Music Victoria. 13 August 2020. 31 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190731040330/https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners. dead.
8. Web site: Previous Nominess. Music Victoria. 13 August 2020. 19 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919214225/https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-nominees. dead.
9. Web site: Industry Awards Winners And Hall Of Fame Inductees Revealed + 2020 Music Victoria Awards Nominees Announced With Public Voting Now Open! . Music Victoria. 9 October 2020 . 9 October 2020.
10. Web site: Sampa The Great Walks Off With a Stack of Music Victoria Awards. noise11. 10 December 2020. 10 December 2020.
11. Web site: Music Victoria Awards Reveals Line-up And Nominees for 2021. Noise11. 11 November 2021. 12 November 2021.
12. Web site: Music Victoria Awards 2021 Winners. scenestr.com.au. 9 December 2021. 9 December 2021.
13. Web site: Music Victoria Awards 2022 Nominees for Industry-Voted Categories Announced. Music Victoria. 27 October 2022. 29 October 2022. 27 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221027053532/https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/music-victoria-awards-2022-nominees-for-industry-voted-categories-announced/. dead.
14. Web site: Nominees, Hall of Fame Inductees Announced for 2023 Music Victoria Awards. Music Feeds. 14 September 2023. 14 September 2023.