Born in Ethiopia, raised in the U.S. and nurtured by San Francisco’s richly diverse arts scene, this acclaimed singer embodies worlds. Joining her soul-filled phrasing to a songwriter’s craft, her music’s influences range wide – from the jazz and soul favorites she grew up on; to the hip-hop and art-rock she loves; to folk traditions from the Americas and her forebears’ East African home. But this singular artist’s sound, drawn of multitudes, is hers alone.

Emerging from her adopted hometown of San Francisco, Meklit erupted to national notice with the 2010 release of “On a Day Like this…” on Porto Franco Records. Hailed by Filter magazine for “[combining] New York jazz with West Coast folk and African flourishes, all bound together by Hadero’s beguiling voice,” her full-length debut — which also garnered feature-stories on its maker from NPR, PBS and National Geographic — brought Meklit’s music to a whole new audience. It also announced the arrival, as the San Francisco Chronicle has put it, of “an artistic giant in the early stages.”

Now touring in support of her debut album while nurturing plans for her next, along with numerous side-projects, Meklit is gracing renowned festivals and concert-halls worldwide. Most at home not in one place but many, she’s an artist leaping from stage to stage before our eyes.

Marcus Cohen founded this project in the bay area summer of 2009 when he met guitarist Vic Wong, drummer Jayme Arredondo, and bassist Mark Allen-Piccolo. They began to lay the foundation for what is now known as The Congress - an eclectic, mesmerizing, ensemble of musicians, vocalists, and an emcee. The idea was inspired from Marcus' love of soul, jazz, funk, gospel, and hip hop.

"The vision is about creating original compositions with
"organic" sound. Music containing meaningful lyrics and played by real musicians. We create in the spirit of artists such as Marvin Gaye, Billie Holliday, Al Green, Miles Davis, Curtis Mayfield, and Stevie Wonder to name a few."