 |
|
This sound grows on the listener:
I was very pleased to receive this CD a couple of days ago. Initially I gave it a cursory listen and thought, well, no big deal. The next morning, early, in semi-darkness and fog at the beach, I was kicking back in my van and really started to listen. At that point I began to find this music having all kinds of hidden qualities and that Getatchew Merkurya is a phenomenal musician. What he is doing on the tenor sax is very subtle and very complex. The sound is all over the spectrum. The more I listen the more I hear. This is pretty deep stuff. He must have practiced a ton to get to where he could produce these sounds. Now I realize that he is also on alot of other CDs in this series and is a major force in this type of music. Most people would find this whole branch of music very obscure, but to me it's become an important part of how I connect to music and the role it plays in my life.
King of Ethiopian Saxophone:
This is the CD I have been waiting for. I expected much of it, but as is sometimes the case with good things, it exceeded my expectations. Getatchew Mekurya plays the saxophone like no one else. He has developed a style of playing the part of the singer and the traditional accompaniment to the singer (the masinqo) with the saxophone, thus creating a whole new approach to sax playing that has set apart Ethiopian sax players from the rest of the world. This CD features Getatchew Mekurya from the early seventies, with a small band of great Ethiopian musicians. It features two vesions of the Ethiopian war song - the Shilela - that has been Getatchew Mekurya's trademark. His playing is always emotional and committed, his sound is always raspy and human. His ability to talk with his sax reminds me of my favorite Jazz sax player - Lester Young. This CD has stayed on my CD player since I got it. It is just such a great and refreshing sound - I cant listen to other things (yet...). I recommend it to saxophone players, fans of Ethiopian music, or any other serious music fans.
| Artist: | Getatchew Mekurya | | Binding: | Audio CD | | EAN: | 0723724563926 | | Original Release Date: | 2003-05-06 | | Release Date: | 2004-04-20 | | UPC: | 723724563926 |
Tracks:- Yègènèt Muziqa
- Shellèla
- Aha Gèdawo
- Antchi Hoyé
- Ambassèl
- Almaz Yèharèwa
- Yèné Hassab Gwadègna
- Shèmonmwanayé
- Gofèré/Antchi Hoyé
- Aynotché Tèrabu
- Akalé Wubé
- Tezeta
- Gèdamay
- Muziqa Heywèté
- Shellèla Bèsaxophone
|
