My blog is closed until Monday, January 3, 2022. The inexplicable quizzes of the coming weekend will still appear. Although the local beach is very attractive, I am actually in a personal lock-up, and I have completed some unfinished (and late) writing promises.
Music-jazz from Ethiopia
This is what I have been listening to at work this morning.
We all know that jazz comes from the fusion of African musical elements and European traditions. Americans think it was invented by them-because they do almost anything-but these patterns do come from Africa.
So besides the “Father of Ethiopian Jazz”, where else can I go– Muratu Astark – He is one of the greatest vibraphone players (not to mention his skills in conga drums, percussion and organ).
He is not a big man in Western jazz, but for me, he has always been a true pioneer. I like the order of his albums, from the early Latin elements (picked up while studying in the US) to his later works. The use of Ethiopian is a fusion of purely African-influenced musical instruments (such as chords or Krall).
In the latter case, the standard pentatonic scale (Krar adjusted to it) is the perfect way to incorporate more Western instruments into his jazz style.
This song – Yèkèrmo Sèw (A Man of Experience and Wisdom) – was released in 1969 – Ethiopian Modern Instrumental Golden Melody (Released Anha Records).
Anha Records -In 1975, the military government took over and fled Ethiopia.
It was reissued in the 1998 volume- Muratu Astark – He is one of the greatest vibraphone players (not to mention his skills in conga drums, percussion and organ).
He is not a big man in Western jazz, but for me, he has always been a true pioneer. I like the order of his albums, from the early Latin elements (picked up while studying in the US) to his later works. The use of Ethiopian is a fusion of purely African-influenced musical instruments (such as chords or Krall).
In the latter case, the standard pentatonic scale (Krar adjusted to it) is the perfect way to incorporate more Western instruments into his jazz style.
This song – Yèkèrmo Sèw (A Man of Experience and Wisdom) – was released in 1969 – Ethiopian Modern Instrumental Golden Melody (Released Anha Records).
Anha Records -In 1975, the military government took over and fled Ethiopia.
It was reissued in the 1998 volume- Ethipics 4: Ethiopian Jazz and Instrumental Music 1969-1974 (Buda Records), which contains music by Mulatu Astatke.
This CD is still available.
This song is based on the pentatonic scale in minor.
You can hear improvisations on Fender Rhodes pianos from the 1960s-this sound defined modern jazz in the late 1960s.
And fuzzy box on the guitar. This was the guitar invention most aspiring guitarists wanted in the late 1960s. what sound!
This track is a fusion of personification.
He toured Australia in 2016 and I saw him playing with the Melbourne Band at the Melbourne Jazz Festival—— Black Jesus experienceBefore the COVID, the band would perform at the Cape of Africa Cafe on Johnston Street in Collingwood, near the “World Center” (Minecraft anyway).
This is an interesting creature in 2018- Mulatu Astke, the father of Ethiopian jazz, is still an active musician.
Enough for today!
(c) Copyright 2021 William Mitchell. all rights reserved.
