- Getatchew Mekurya
Getatchew Mekurya is an
Ethiopia njazz saxophonist.Career
Mèkurya began his musical studies on traditional Ethiopian instruments such as the
krar and themessengo , and later moved on to thesaxophone and theclarinet . Upon reaching adolescence, he began his career in 1949 as a part of theMunicipality Band inAddis Ababa . In 1965 he joined the famousPolice Orchestra . He was also one of the first musicians to play an instrumental version of the Ethiopian war chant "Shellela." With the album "Negus of Ethiopian Sax" (since re-released as part of theEthiopiques CD series), Mekurya became known as internationally as one of the most important proponents ofEthio-jazz .He has had a long career working alongside many of the biggest orchestras in the Ethiopian capital. He has also accompanied
Alemayehu Eshete ,Hirut Beqele andAyalew Mesfin . He still lives in Addis, and shows up regularly at the Sunset Bar at the Sheraton.In 1974, he became a professor of police orchestras (?) in Addis, where he still lives.
Collaboration with The Ex
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 turn, Mekuria asked the Ex to be the backup band for his 2006 album, "
Moa Anbessa ". The Ex and Mekuria toured TheNetherlands ,Belgium andFrance together in 2006 and 2007.Discography
* "Ethiopiques Volume 14: Negus Of Ethiopian Sax" (recorded in 1972)
* "Moa Anbessa" (with The Ex and other guests) (2006)
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