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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    BONUS ITEM: 40-pages booklet scan in PDF
    Purchasable with gift card

      €12 EUR  or more

     

1.
Ambassel 07:37
2.
Tezeta 04:24
3.
4.
Bati 03:46
5.
6.
7.
Aha Gedawo 05:03
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Aha Gedawo 05:02
13.
Shellelle 06:50
14.
15.
Ambassel 07:21
16.
17.
18.
Bati 02:22
19.
20.
Ambassel 12:02

about

THIS DIGITAL ALBUM INCLUDES BONUS ITEM: 40-pages booklet scan in PDF

Quite unexpectedly, last year, while here in Europe for several summer festivals, Getatchew Mekuria at the age of 76, expressed an urge to make one more recording. With The Ex. Probably the last one in his life. A great responsibility!
We recorded in December, in Wormerveer and Addis Abeba. The result is stunning. Deep, old, classic melodies. Very different from the last one. Instrumental, more sensitive and fragile, deeper. Amazing horn riffs and solos, but also danceable, with up-tempo war-chants. Many things. He called it “Y'Anbessaw Tezeta” (In Memory Of The Lion). Memories of 65 years of playing music! But also always new and forward.
But there is more. We wanted to make something special. We added an extra CD, with some historical recordings, including Getatchew and the Instant Composers Pool (ICP), Haile Selassie 1 Theatre Orchestra (1960!) and a live performance with The Ex in Montreal. Plus a 40-page booklet with great photos by many photographers. Matias Corral specially came to Addis to shoot some Getatchew portraits in addition to his already striking black + white live photos. We decided to make this a benefit CD for Getatchew. Everyone contributed for free. After almost 65 years of playing music, we thought this amazing person deserves some kind of pension!
This new vinyl version comes as a double LP on 180 gram vinyl with a 48-page photobook.
The first time we met Getatchew was early 2004. We were intrigued by his music which we knew from an old cassette. What an original sound! We went to Addis to find him. Getatchew agreed right away to come to Holland for our 25th anniversary party in Amsterdam in November 2004. He played with the ICP and he loved it, but he was also intrigued by The Ex and wanted to play and record with us. We invited some great horn players and things have never stopped since. We recorded the “Moa Anbessa” CD and in some eight years we've done almost a hundred concerts in 15 countries; jazz, world music and rock festivals, and venues all over the world. Lincoln Centre Out of Doors in New York, the French 8 o'clock news with 8 million viewers, Rio Loco in Toulouse to 20.000 people and broadcasted on TV in Ethiopia.

Terp Records, 2012
African Series AS-21/22

CD at The Ex shop - exmailorder.nl/shop/catalogue/yanbessaw-tezeta-cd
LP at The Ex shop - exmailorder.nl/shop/catalogue/yanbessaw-tezeta-lp

credits

released January 1, 2012

Getatchew Mekuria (tenor saxophone) The Ex: Arnold de Boer (trumpet), Terrie Hessels (guitar), Andy Moor (guitar), Katherina Bornefeld (drums). Friends: Xavier Charles (clarinet), Ken Vandermark (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet), Brodie West (alto saxophone), Joost Buis (trombone), Wolter Wierbos (trombone), Colin McLean (bass), Melaku Belay (dance).

Recorded December 6/7 2011, February 24/28 2012, April 5/23 2012 in Jottum, Wormerveer, Holland, and May 3 2012 in Fendika, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Engineer Jottem: Maarten Tap. Co-engineered: Andy + Arnold. Engineer Addis: Arnold. Mixed by Arnold + Andy at Andy's home and in Jottum. Mastered by Frank van der Weij.

Bonus CD - Some History:
11,12 and 13. Recorded in Paradiso, Amsterdam, 19-11-2004, during the Plezante Aagelegenheid 25-years of The Ex. By Emile van Croonenburg for the Concertzender. Producer: Hans Straman. ICP (Instant Composers Pool): Misha Mengelberg - Piano, Han Bennink - Drums, Mary Oliver - Viola, Tristan Honsiger - Cello, Ernst Glerum - Double Bass, Michael Moore - Alto Saxophone, Wolter Wierbos - Trombone, Thomas Heberer - Trumpet, Cor Fuhler - Organ. Introduction: Jaap Blonk.
Yene Hasab Gwadegna means "my trought is my friend". It's based on a traditional song.
Aha Gedawo and Shellelle are both traditional heroic war-cry's, shouted litany's of boasts and threats traditionally performed before a battle. Arrangement: Getatchew & ICP Orchestra.

14. Recorded in Mulhouse 23-11-2004, during the Convoy Tour, 25 years of The Ex. The Ex: Terrie & Andy - Guitar, Katherina - Drums, Rozemarie Heggen - Double Bass. Yegenet Musica means: Genet's music, that is: Genet's declaration of love.

15,16 and 17. Recorded in the Sala Rossa, Montreal, d.d. 14&16-09-2009. The Ex: Terrie, Andy, Katherina and Arnold - Vocals. Guests: Xavier, Joost, Broodie and Joe Williamson - Bass.
Lale Guma and Yaf Zemed Mech Teffa are both based on songs by Ayalew Mesfin and the Fetan (Speed) Band. Yaf Zemed Mech Teffa is meaning something like: 'there is a lot of superficial people'; 'talking behind your back'. The next of 7 (From Hinge Perspective) was written by Arnold (The Ex). Lale Guma is from Wollo, about stick-fighting between groups of youth from neighboring countryside villages. Arragement: Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Friends.

18. Recorded june 2011 in Witte Villa, Wormer. Getatchew giving an example of a song we could record.

19 & 20. Recorded early 1960-ies. Shellelle / Fukera: Getatchew Mekuria - Alto Saxophone. Woman singer: Asagedetch Mekonnen, male singer: Mekonnen Mersha (?) of the Harar Police Orchestra. Ambassel: Wedajeneh Filfilu - Clarinet, Getatchew Mekuria - Tenor Saxophone. We found both tracks on very old cassettes in Addis Abeba.

Artwork: Emma Fischer. Photos by Matias Corral, Emma Fischer, Andy Moor, Pavel Stráẑay, Nanni Angeli, Barbora Fabianova, Christina Halstrom, Nick Helderman, Leul Mekonnen, Paul Till. The Getatchew archival photos come from his own private photo-albums.
Produced by The Ex.

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The Ex Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Ex started playing in 1979. Using guitars, bass, drums and voice as their starting point The Ex have continued to musically explore undiscovered areas right up to the present day: collaborations with jazz musicians and an Iraqi-Kurdish band, Kamagurka, Tom Cora, Sonic Youth, Han Bennink, Jan Mulder, Shellac and Wolter Wierbos. In 2002 The Ex set up a lively musical exchange with Ethiopia. ... more

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