Ethiopiques

by Getatchew Mekurya

Overview

The Ethiopiques series of world music keeps slowly widening its arc, and this time around it's come up with some very interesting vintage (circa 1972) material. Ethiopiques, Vol. 14: Negus of Ethiopian Sax features Getatchew Mekurya, a sax player whose inspiration comes from traditional warrior music: the kind meant to whip soldiers into a frenzy before battle. And frenzied his playing truly is, with several shades of free jazz at its most abandoned (which, curiously, he claims never to have heard). It's wild stuff -- but wild only on the sax. The band behind him exists strictly for melodic and rhythmic function. While they perform admirably, they add little to the music itself, while the sax takes off on weird and wonderful paths. It's stirring, and demands a lot of a Western listener unfamiliar with the tradition. But it's perhaps best ingested in small doses. And while it's interesting, certainly, it's not on a par with the rest of the series. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/06/2003
Label:	Buda Musique
UPC:	0723724563926

Tracks

1. Yegenet Muziqa
2. Shellela
3. Aha Gedawo
4. Antchi Hoye
5. Ambassel
6. Almaz Yeharerwa
7. Yene Hassab Gwadegna
8. Shemonmwanaye
9. Gofere / Antchi Hoye
10. Aynotche Terabu
11. Akale Wube
12. Tezeta
13. Gedamay
14. Muziqa Heywete
15. Shellela Besaxophone

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Getatchew Mekurya   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Amha Eshete   Bass
Getatchew Degefu   Organ,Piano,Keyboards
Bogale Welde Hanna   Maracas,Saxophone
Mekonnen Mersha   Trumpet
Eshetu Hayle   Drums
Alemayehu Eshete   Bass

Technical Credits

Getatchew Mekurya   Arranger
Francis Falceto   Editing,Liner Notes,Series Editor,Production Executive
Leul Mekonnen   Photography
Wilfrid Harpaille   Restoration,Tape Transfer
Kassa Mehrete   Photography
Dimitry Weliachew   Liner Notes
Karen Albrecht   Translation
Jack Garnier   Graphic Design
Maurice Lachin   Liner Notes
Shimelis Desta   Photography
Desta Atlaw   Photography
Traditional   Composer