Getatchew Mekurya

Gétatchèw Mèkurya (Amharic: ጌታቸው መኩሪያ) (14 March 1935 – 4 April 2016)[1][2] was an Ethiopian jazz saxophonist. Mekurya reached an international audience when his album Negus of Ethiopian Sax was re-released as part of the Ethiopiques CD series. Mekurya's playing style has been compared to free jazz.[3]

Gétatchèw Mèkurya
Getatchew Mekuria.jpg
Background information
Born(1935-03-14)14 March 1935
Yifat, Ethiopia
OriginAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
Died4 April 2016(2016-04-04) (aged 81)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
GenresEthiopian music, jazz
InstrumentsTenor saxophone
Years active1949–2016
Associated actsThe Ex, Either/Orchestra, Addis Ababa Municipality Band

Mekurya died in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from a leg infection caused by diabetes on 4 April 2016, aged 81.[4]

References

  1. "The Ex".
  2. According to the official The Ex website and the Bimhuis website, both retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. Nickson, Chris. "Ethiopiques, Vol. 14: Negus of Ethiopian Sax (Review)". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  4. Nate Chinen (April 11, 2016). "Getatchew Mekurya, Ethiopian Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 81". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/12/arts/music/getatchew-mekurya-ethiopian-jazz-saxophonist-dies-at-81.html.