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20 July, 2008
The term world music suggests sounds that are esoteric and unfamiliar -- neither of which applies to Ethiopiques.
(Ethiopiques will be appearing at New York's Lincoln Center on August 20 and at the Festival of World Cultures, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland on August 22.)
Onstage, the natty-tailored, balding guy on vibes is jazz arranger Mulatu Astatq, who once played with Duke Ellington. The priest-like one in the robes is Mahmoud Ahmed, who became Ethiopia's most popular singer, and was once the spitting image of the young Sam Cooke. Almayhu Esht still has the yelp (if not quite the glorious pompadour) of his James Brown days. And, draped in his colorful military cape and now somewhat mangey, lion's mane crown, the shamanic Gtatchw Mkurya would catch the eye in any age, a Sun Ra for the Horn of Africa and beyond. full article >>