Ethiopiques Volume 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974

Rate It! Avg: 5.0 (148 ratings)
ALBUM INFORMATION
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 14   Total Length: 65:38

eMusic Review

Avatar Image
Banning Eyre

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
The bewitching sound of Ethiopian jazz
2000 | Label: Buda - Ethiopiques / Believe Digital

This one-of-a-kind set samples instrumental works by arranger Mulatu Astatqè, a key player in Addis 'golden age of pop. Educated in music in London and New York, Astatqè returned to Addis with an awareness of American jazz and, equally importantly, Latin music. Jazz harmonies and arrangements applied to the dark modalities of Ethiopian traditional melodies result in the rebirth of cool as grand melancholy, and tunes sinister enough to animate the darkest of film noir nightmares. From "Yèkèrmo Sèw," with its echoes of Horace Silver, to the swinging 6/8 flute feature "Asmarina," and "Mètché Dershé" with its heavy, Latinesque piano vamp and lugubrious tenor sax, this volume is a treasure — 14 tracks filled with organ drones, wah-wah and fuzz-tone guitars, and some of the most inventive and memorable horn arrangements you'll ever hear.

Write a Review8 Member Reviews

Please log in before you review a release. Log in

user avatar

Yes Virginia, there is Ethiopian Jazz

stfnc

On paper jazz coming from Ethiopia in the 70's does not sound too promising, but this is highly intoxicating stuff. Download it and you'll find yourself coming back to this frequently.

user avatar

Ethiopique Marsh-Mellows

Muselmann

Some of these tracks figure on the soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers". The rest of it is pretty much in the same vibe. Perfect for a relaxed evening, when studying, writing or just plain chilling with your homies :)

user avatar

must have

chadarack

one of the greatest albums EVA!

user avatar

Awesome

Easy-Urf

Absolutely awesome stuff! Great to hear some haunting, funky, bluesy and original music. I cannot believe these tracks are from the 70's. Highly recommended.

user avatar

Light up your cigarette or your hookah

kagikaze

I'll confess to only finding this stuff via Jim Jarmusch/Broken Flowers. I haven't been disappointed. Tracks 1,5,9 seem most like the music from that movie, if you care. But you should download the whole thing.

user avatar

Question?

Demygawdjr

The 13th track on this album is by Girma Hadgu, not Mulatu. Does anyone have any info on this person? This is the most haunting track of all and I would love to hear more of his work. Thanks

user avatar

haunting

Pompey

Fabulous, haunting. Spooky/mournful horns. I've just begun to explore this series and have not gone wrong yet.

user avatar

Broken Flowers

d-fib

Jim Jarmusch featured Mulatu Astatqè heavily in his latest movie, adding to its melancholy and mystique. Any one of the Ethiopiques series is ripe for DL, but I love the Getachew Mekurya album the best: http://www.emusic.com/album/10755/10755664.html

Recommended Albums

They Say All Media Guide

To some, the term “Ethiopian jazz” might seem impossible; after all, it’s a very American form. But what’s truly surprising isn’t the fact that these musicians play jazz so well, but the range of jazz they manage, from the George Benson-ish guitar workout of “Munaye” to the twisting sax of “Tezeta.” Really, though, it’s more Jimmy Smith than Duke Ellington in its aim (although Ellington is on the cover, on stage with Mulatu Astatke, the bandleader behind all these selections). The grooves often smoke rather than swing, with some fiery drumming, most notably on “Yekermo Sew,” and throughout the guitar is very much to the fore as a rhythm instrument. Perhaps the most interesting cut, however, is “Yekatit,” from 1974, which is Astatke’s tribute to the burgeoning revolution which would oust Emperor Haile Sellassie. Some of these pieces, certainly “Dewel,” has seen U.S. release before; the track appeared in 1972 on Mulatu of Ethiopia, which was Astatke’s third American LP, showing that jazz aficionados, at least, had an appreciation for what he was achieving in the horn of Africa. Given that many of his musicians had graduated from police and military bands, they knew their instruments well, and had plenty of practice time, which shows in the often inventive solos that dot the tracks. Varied, occasionally lyrical, but interesting throughout, this shines a fabulous spotlight on a hidden corner of jazz. – Chris Nickson

more »