The Ex / Getatchew Mekuria Moa Anbessa

Getatchew Mekuria is the most revered veteran of the Ethiopian saxophone. He is a real giant, both physically and musically. In his seventies, he is still in full voice, with his own, powerfully distinctive style of playing. His huge vibrato, both forceful and fragile, plays around the vocal lines, using typical Ethiopian embellishments. He started playing in 1947 in the Addis Abeba Municipal Ban , then in the Haile Selassie 1 Theatre Orchestra and the Police Orchestra. He also backed up all the famous Ethiopian singers. He is the inventor of a musical style called the Shellele, which originates from an heroic war-chant, translated to the saxophone. When he rlays it, he dons a lion's mane and cuts loose with furious solos that are a kind of free jazz, from efore free jazz existed.The Ex, often descibed as an avant-ethno-improv-punk band, toured Ethiopia twice and fell in love with its music. The Ex had their 25th year anniversary party in November 2004 and they invited Getatchew to perform there with the ICP, the Instant Composers Pool, for many decades Holland's most amazing free-improvising jazz group, based around Misha Menge berg and Han Bennink. It was his first time traveling outside of Ethiopia but he accepted the ICP as if they were his own band, donned his lion's mane, the 'gofere', and blasted everyone off stage. Getatchew and the ICP played at the Paradiso, the Bozar in Brussels and later at the Moers Jazz Festival; and on the 25 ear Ex convoy tour around France, he played with The Ex.He was so inspired that he suggested to The Ex he should record his next CD with them. He gave them 10 solo saxophone versions of Ethiopian tunes, which they arranged and practiced. Then in April 2006 Getatchew traveled to the Netherlands for some concerts and recording sessions. The result is unique; Getatchew's melodies and solos mesh with The Ex's rhythms, noise and vocals, supported by a guest horn section, like they were made for each other! So here we have another chapter in the story of The Ex, and a...