Getatchew Mekurya facts for kids
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Getatchew Mekurya
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Getachew Mekuria Woldetekle |
| Born | 14 March 1935 Yifat, Shewa, Ethiopian Empire |
| Origin | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Died | 4 April 2016 (aged 81) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Genres | Ethiopian music, jazz, Ethio-jazz |
| Instruments | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 1949–2016 |
| Associated acts | The Ex, Either/Orchestra, Addis Ababa Municipality Band |
Getatchew Mekurya (born March 14, 1935 – died April 4, 2016) was a famous Ethiopian jazz musician. He was known for playing the saxophone. His name in Amharic is ጌታቸው መኩሪያ ወልደ ተክሌ.
Contents
Early Life and Music Career
Getatchew Mekurya was born on March 14, 1935, in Yifat, Ethiopia. His father worked as a honey merchant. When he was young, Getatchew learned to play traditional Ethiopian instruments. These included the washint flute, the krar, and the masenqo. Later, he started playing the saxophone and clarinet.
At just 13 years old, Getatchew began his professional music career. This was in 1949, when he joined the Municipality Band in Addis Ababa. In 1955, he became part of the house band at the Haile Selassie I Theatre in Addis. Then, in 1965, he joined the well-known Police Orchestra.
The Shellela Style
Getatchew Mekurya was one of the first musicians to record an instrumental version of shellela. This is a type of traditional Amhara vocal music. Warriors used to sing shellela before going into battle.
Mekurya took this tradition very seriously. He often performed on stage wearing a warrior's animal-skin tunic and a lion's mane headdress. He kept improving his instrumental shellela style. In 1970, he recorded an entire album called Negus of Ethiopian Sax. This album was released during the popular time of Ethio-jazz music. Mekurya also worked with many big orchestras in Ethiopia's capital city. He played alongside famous singers like Alemayehu Eshete, Hirut Beqele, and Ayalew Mesfin.
Later Career and Collaborations
Getatchew Mekurya became known to people around the world. This happened when his album Negus of Ethiopian Sax was re-released as part of the Ethiopiques CD series. People have compared Mekurya's playing style to free jazz. However, he developed his unique style on his own in the early 1950s. Mekurya himself said he did not know about other free jazz musicians like Ornette Coleman or Albert Ayler.
Working with The Ex
The Dutch band The Ex, known for their avant-garde punk music, heard Mekurya's music. He invited them to play with him, and they started performing together in 2004. Mekurya asked The Ex to be the backing band for his 2006 album, Moa Anbessa.
The Ex and Mekurya toured together in 2006 and 2007, visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. They then toured the United States in 2008 and Canada in 2009. Members of the group Fendika also joined them on these tours. A second album with The Ex, called Y'Anbessaw Tezeta, came out in 2012.
Other Musical Projects
Mekurya also added his special sound to music with other artists. These included British Tamil singer Susheela Raman and the Boston jazz group Either/Orchestra. He lived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He often performed at the Sunset Bar at the Sheraton Addis and also at Fendika Azmari Bet.
Personal Life
Getatchew Mekurya's wife, Ayalech, passed away in 2015. He died in 2016 at the age of 81 due to health issues. He was survived by his nine children and many grandchildren.
Discography
- "Shellela" 45 (late 1950s)
- Ethiopiques Volume 14: Negus of Ethiopian Sax (recorded in 1970, released in 1972)
- Ethiopiques Volume 20: Either/Orchestra Live in Addis (Mekuria is on the song "Shellella") (recorded in 2004)
- Moa Anbessa (with The Ex and other musicians) (2006)
- Gétatchèw Mèkurya & The Ex + Guests [DVD, Ethiosonic/Buda Musique] (2007)
- Y'Anbessaw Tezeta (with the Ex and Friends, 2012)
- The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2012, World Music Network)
