Gétatchèw Mèkurya

Born in 1935, Ethiopian jazz saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya rose to prominence after playing in the Municipality Band and, especially, the Police Band through the mid-'60s. His 1972 album Negus of Ethiopian Sax (reissued as part of the Ethiopiques series) helped establish Mekurya as a prime proponent of the burgeoning African jazz movement. During the 2000s, the Ethiopian musician attained even greater visibility as a result of an ongoing association with Dutch post-punk band the Ex, to the extent of having the European band back him up on the 2006 album Moa Anbessa. Getatchew ...