Ethiopiques 4 [Import]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Sub-titled 'Ethiopian Jazz and Instrumental Music (1969-74)'. UK compilation drawn from the catalogs of Amha Records an d Kaifa Records. The Artists may be unfamiliar but the musical heritage contained within is hugely rewarding. Vibrant and sassy urban pop, Arabic elements mixing sinuously with low down funk 'n' roll. Standard jewel case.

Ethiopiques 4,Various Artists,Musdu,Pop
Ethiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amazing.......!
  • very cool and unusual Afro Jazz/Funk
  • a pleasure every time
  • Where have these guys been all my life.
  • Great music, bad quality
Ethiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974
Mulatu Astatke
Manufacturer: Buda Musique
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

EthiopiaEthiopia | Africa | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
Fusion & World FusionFusion & World Fusion | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
InternationalInternational | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Broken Flowers: Music from the Film
  2. Ethiopiques, Vol. 1: Golden Years Of Modern Ethiopian Music
  3. Ethio Jazz Vol. 1
  4. Ethiopiques 20: Live in Addis
  5. Ethiopiques, Vol. 3: Golden Years Of Modern Ethiopian Music

ASIN: B00000DDMB
Release Date: 1998-10-06

Tracks:

  1. A Man Of Experience And Wisdom
  2. When Am I Going To Reach There?
  3. From All The Time I Have Passed
  4. Nostalgia
  5. My Own Memory
  6. My Muna
  7. My Gubel
  8. My Asmara
  9. February
  10. Liberty
  11. Baby, My Unforgettable Remembrace
  12. My Saba
  13. I Can't Live Without You
  14. Bell

Amazon.com

Largely the work of formidable musician-arranger Mulatu Astatqe, the 14 instrumentals here were originally issued on two LPs in 1972 and 1974 in Ethiopia, and represent a curious blend of soul-jazz and R&B with just a smattering of Ethiopian roots breaking up the stabbing horn lines, wah-wah guitars, and simmering electric piano. Curious, because at the time jazz was not very popular in Ethiopia, but that is no reflection on the quality of these primitively recorded sides of idiosyncratic Afro-funk. The grooves are long and laconic, the sound reminiscent of Miles Davis's "In a Silent Way" paired with Cannonball Adderly and Roy Ayers. But, as with all things Ethiopian, the music retains its own unique and unmistakable identity, one somewhere between a late-night jazz hole-in-the-wall group and a supper club belly-dancing combo. There are some very inventive arrangements and vigorous soloing, rendering a highly articulate and listenable music that was, at the time, doomed to go nowhere. Such is the retrospective value of reissues. --Derek Rath

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Amazing.......!.......2007-02-14

Wow. I can't stop listening to this album..it's incredible. How did I live without it for so long? It has this mysterious, sexy, intimate, exotic, beautiful sound. My life feels just a tad more complete now. HOT

4 out of 5 stars very cool and unusual Afro Jazz/Funk.......2007-01-06

I bought this CD on a whim after it was recommended by Amazon, and I really like this album. Fans of Fela and other Afro Jazz / Afro Pop will probably like this one. The difference is that this is EAST African. While the music is primarily jazz and R&B, there are very clear local influences, which sound somewhat Middle Eastern to my uninitiated Western ears. It's unlike any other CD that I've ever heard, but it's familiar sounding enough to enjoy right away.

The sound quality is what it is! It's from Ethiopia more than 30 years ago! The sound quality is relatively primitive, but it's not something that should keep the open-minded listener from thoroughly enjoying this music. I could even argue that the sound gives it another unique touch.

My daunting challenge for me now is to determine which one of the other 19 volumes of this series to get next.

5 out of 5 stars a pleasure every time.......2006-08-30

This is powerful, mystical, ancient, ethereal, psychedelic stuff, wrapped in the raw familiar shapes of jazz, blues, funk, and pop. The horn melodies are dark and hypnotic, punctuated by guitar tones ranging from raw and distorted to reverb wah-wah, joined by electric piano, flute, and various percussion. I love most of the pieces, I think I realized around track #4 that this was special. And listen to track 5, the horns kick it off for the first 2 seconds, then they go away until a sax comes in at 1:22 and plays for awhile as the rhythm just pounds away in the background, finally the horns rip back in at 2:20 and keep at it until the end with a great repeating riff. The last track even approaches a sort of Stooges 'LA Blues'.
I also really love the Ethiopiques albums with Mahmoud Ahmed, I think they are #6 & 7 in the series.
The real charm of this music comes from the way it sounds, the way it was recorded. Raw and low-fi and brimming with soul, the needle pushing into the red. Dig it.

5 out of 5 stars Where have these guys been all my life........2006-07-27

I got this CD after viewing Broken Flower, the movie. I loved the soundtrack and went to Amazon to find the CD. They helpfully showed me the Ethiopiques CD, and I liked their cuts on the movie soundtrack, so I thought I'd take a chance. Everyone I play it for wants to know more about them. I know very little, but love everything on this CD. I will definitly try more of their stuff. My daughter says, "this music makes me happy."

1 out of 5 stars Great music, bad quality.......2006-07-09

This album has a great selection of music, but the recording quality is very bad. Try to listen to it before you buy it
Ethiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Ethiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974
    Mulatu Astatke
    Manufacturer: Musdu
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
    InternationalInternational | Imports | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B000025046
    Release Date: 1998-07-26

    Tracks:

    1. A Man Of Experience And Wisdom
    2. When Am I Going To Reach There?
    3. From All The Time I Have Passed
    4. Nostalgia
    5. My Own Memory
    6. My Muna
    7. My Gubel
    8. My Asmara
    9. February
    10. Liberty
    11. Baby, My Unforgettable Remembrace
    12. My Saba
    13. I Can't Live Without You
    14. Bell

    Album Description

    Sub-titled 'Ethiopian Jazz and Instrumental Music (1969-74)'. UK compilation drawn from the catalogs of Amha Records an d Kaifa Records. The Artists may be unfamiliar but the musical heritage contained within is hugely rewarding. Vibrant and sassy urban pop, Arabic elements mixing sinuously with low down funk 'n' roll. Standard jewel case.

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