The Ex played La Sala Rossa in Montreal last night and Monday, the best room in the city, with extremely special guest Getatchew Mekuria, legendary Ethiopian saxophonist. The Ex are amazing live, but this was far beyond the quality of the other time I've seen them, and most concerts on earth. Incredible integration of a horn section backing Getatchew's captivating melodies and phrasing, and with it the propulsive sound of The Ex lifted to new levels. Beautiful cross-cultural and genre-melding music that I'm glad to have heard once this lifetime.
Here's their release together, which captures much of the above. Must be played loud if it's too match any of the energy of the above.
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http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/lywmwe
And some background:
He is the most revered veteran of the Ethiopian saxophone. 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 Band, 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 plays it, he dons a lion’s mane and cuts loose with furious solos that are a kind of free jazz, from before free jazz existed.
The Ex, from Holland, 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.
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. On the 25-year-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 impro-horn section.
There were some 50 concerts on many Jazz-, Worldmusic- and Rock-festivals and a presentation of the CD in Addis Abeba, where the record also was released on cassette. First pressing 10.000!
Last year the Ex & Getatchew played a USA Tour ao the Lincoln Center ‘Out of Doors’ in New York and the Millenium Park in Chicago.
Discography:
'Moa Anbessa' Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Guests. CD/LP Terp Records AS-011.
'Negus of Ethiopian sax' Ethiopiques 14 Getatchew Mekuria. CD Buda Musique.
‘11 Ethio-punk songs’ Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Guests. Ethiosonic. DVD Buda Musique
The Ex
www.theex.nlTerp Records
www.terprecords.nlCode:
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