90° and Sunny
Image
Sometime around 2017, I first connected with Meklit Hadero by email while reaching out to invite her onto the Jolly Papa Radio Show on WOWD 94.3 FM Takoma Radio in Takoma Park. She joined the program by telephone while on tour, with Washington, DC as one of her stops on the way to the New York area. What was supposed to be a typical 15–20 minute radio interview stretched to more than 30 minutes. Meklit was warm, thoughtful, and disarmingly engaging—her storytelling adventurous and her spirit generous. It was the kind of conversation that reminds you that music is not only performance; it is community.
Over the years, Meklit has continued to make DC an important stop along her musical journey, deepening her connection with audiences here. An Ethiopian-American vocalist, songwriter, and composer, she has performed on renowned stages across four continents and has also built a reputation as a cultural thought leader. Her work has taken her to speaking platforms including the United Nations, TED stages, and the National Geographic Storytellers Summit, while her creative residencies have included time at Stanford University and Harvard University. She is also the co-founder and host of Movement (podcast series), a podcast, radio series, and live performance initiative uplifting the songs and stories of immigrant musicians.
Now Meklit brings that same spirit of connection to her new album, A Piece of Infinity, released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. The project reimagines Ethiopian traditional music through her signature San Francisco Ethio-jazz lens, featuring collaborations with harpist Brandee Younger and saxophonist/flutist Camille Thurman. The album moves between beloved classics like “Ambassel” and “Tizita,” lesser-known treasures such as the celebratory Kembata song “Geefata,” and original compositions including “Lefeqer Enegeza,” created with Ethiopian poet Alemtsehay Wedajo—all reflecting just a small glimpse of the infinite beauty held within Ethiopian musical traditions.
Meklit joins the National Museum of African Art on April 10 to celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month. The performance starts at 6:30 PM. You can visit the museum's website for more information.
More News from Takoma Park
- Passion, Betrayal, and Boldness: Don’t Miss Virginia Opera’s Carmen! Experience the fierce allure of Bizet's Carmen live at George Mason University on Nov 16—opera’s most captivating drama awaits!
- What to do in the DC Area - Tuesday, Nov 12 - Thursday, Nov 14 Catch live jazz, theater, and legendary artists in DC this week—from Miki Yamanaka to Morrissey and Drunk Shakespeare to Kenny G!
