* En anglais uniquement
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 Mekurya died in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April 2016 at the age of 81. ~ Rovi Staff