Getatchew Mekuria - Y'Anbessaw Tezeta Disc 1 & 2 [2012]

Original post @ AfroCubanLatinJazz

       Enamored by saxophonist Getatchew Mekuria's Ethiopiques 14 CD "The Negus of Ethiopian Sax", The Ex invited Mekuria to play at their 25th anniversary party in November, 2004 at Paradiso in Amsterdam. Mekuria's career stretches back to 1948, and though in his 70's, this was his first time out of Ethiopia. The results were compelling, so much so that The Ex and Mekuria decided to tour France together. So pleased were both that when Mekuria suggested recording a CD with The Ex they jumped at the chance, each choosing material with distinctive Ethiopian flavor, but which allowed both to remain true to their own music. With an added horn section, and Cor Fuhler on organ for 3 pieces, this magnificent CD is the result, an excellent extension to both The Ex and Mekuria. Includes a 32 page booklet with Mekuria's history, lyrics, and photos.

        Mekuria began his musical studies on traditional Ethiopian instruments such as the krar and the masenqo, and later moved on to the saxophone and clarinet. Upon reaching adolescence, he began his professional career in 1949 as a part of the Municipality Band in Addis Ababa. In 1955 he joined the house band at Addis' Haile Selassie I Theatre, and in 1965 joined the famous Police Orchestra. He was also one of the first musicians to record an instrumental version of shellela, a genre of traditional Ethiopian vocal music sung by warriors before going into battle. 

       Mekuria took the shellela tradition seriously, often appearing onstage in a warrior's animal-skin tunic and lion's mane headdress. He continued to refine his instrumental shellela style, recording an entire album in 1970, Negus of Ethiopian Sax, released on Philips Ethiopia during the heyday of the Ethiojazz movement. Mekuria continued to work alongside many of the biggest orchestras in the Ethiopian capital, accompanying renowned singers Alemayehu Eshete, Hirut Beqele, and Ayalew Mesfin.

         Mekuria reached an international audience when his album Negus of Ethiopian Sax was re-released as part of the Ethiopiques CD series. Mekurya's playing style has been compared to free jazz, but developed in isolation from it during the early 1950s. Mekurya has said he is unfamiliar with either Ornette Coleman or Albert Ayler.

       The album Negus of Ethiopian Sax caught the ears of Dutch avant-garde/punk band The Ex who invited the septuagenarian sax player to perform at their 25th anniversary show in Amsterdam in November 2004. In turn, Mekuria asked the Ex to be the backup band for his 2006 album, Moa Anbessa. The Ex and Mekuria toured The Netherlands, Belgium and France together in 2006 and 2007, and then the United States in 2008 and Canada in 2009.

       Getatchew Mekuria has added his distinctive sound to collaborations with numerous other contemporary artists, including British Tamil singer Susheela Raman and Boston jazz ensemble Either/Orchestra. He still lives in Addis Ababa, and regularly performs at the Sunset Bar at the Sheraton Addis.

    Getatchew Mekuria, The Ex + Friends          

 Y'Anbessaw Tezeta 

Getatchew Mekuria (tenor saxophone),
Arnold de Boer (trumpet),
Terrie Hessels (guitar),
Andy Moor (guitar),
Xavier Charles (clarinet),
Ken Vandermark (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet),
Brodie West (alto saxophone),
Joost Buis (trombone),
Wolter Wierbos (trombone),
Colin McLean (bass)


Recorded December 6/7 2011, February 24/28 2012, April 5/23 2012 in Jottum, Wormerveer, Holland, and May 3 2012 in Fendika, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.