Ethiopiques 15: Europe Meets E

A modern (2001) recording added to the strong reissues from the 70s and beyond that comprise most of the Ehiopiques series. Here, some European jazzbos of the Amsterdam School visit Addis and record with local musicians on their traditional instruments and a whole battalion of singers from various bands and theater troupes, in an Addis nightclub, though crowd noise is noticeably absent. The oddity is that instrumental improvisation is not very much valued in the traditional Ethiopian musical tradition (so say the notes), though witty verbal banter is. This, alas, may be lost on us. I find much of this album to be lethargic and passive and don’t feel the “Jump” so prominent in the title though there are some energetic moments.

1. Mid-tempo and somewhat meandering melody; prominent flute embroidery and sax solo; it’s all a bit too laid back, you know
2. Generally laid back but the ensemble does reach a simmer for a couple of minutes following a borderline wanky guitar solo
3. Call-and-response vocals over mildly stirring tune
4. Nothing special framework supports a nice “messenqo” (violin-like) and a soprano sax solo
5. Much more pronounced rhythm, alternating a sort of stomp with rests for a stop-and-go feel; male vocals are assertive
6. Sweetly simple lyrics (“I am leaving you … Don’t go … I will cook a nice meal so we can have a good time) delivered with passion in a ballad
7. Formless
8. Perhaps the most poppy song here, by which I mean it has a clear structure, very little improvisation, a simple melody, and a straightforward vocal
9. Funky groove, call-and-response, some energy in the whole endeavor, including the plinky highlife-like guitar
10. Finally, a jumping tune worthy of the album title – assertive drums, the horn section blows with crispness, the singer exhibits some nice vibrato and trrrrrills his rrrrrrrs playfully; so joyful!