Atmosphere In Spades

Ethiopieke #14 Gétatch�w M�kurya is probably the most revered veteran of the Ethiopian saxophone. A real giant, both mentally and physically, he is at the top level of Ethiopian saxophonists and the inventor of an extremely distinctive musical style, the saxophone sh�llela. This musical form was daring, improvisational, angry and impetuous. Without resorting to clichés, sh�llela was a sort of free jazz before its time; what with the political situation in Ethiopia during the '50s and '60s, Mékurya knew absolutely nothing about Ornette Coleman or Albert Ayler, about free jazz or anything else going on in American music. All the titles on this disc were previously released on two 45s and one LP in 1972. The Ethiopieke series of releases are a musts have and ya just can not go wrong with any of 'em! I suggest, as a starter, get Ethiopieke, Vol. 4. Or If you've seen the Jim Jarmasch movie "Broken Flowers", (Bill Murray, and a great performance by Jeffrey Wright as "Winston") it's littered with the tunes. Get on it!