Ethiojazz – that is, the form of jazz popular in Ethiopia between 1969 and 1978 – has been having a resurgence in the last few years due to the Éthiopiques series of reissues on Buda Musique and revival bands such as the Either/Orchestra and Debo Band. For today’s Song of the Day, we’re going right back to beginning of the style.

Gétachèw Mèkurya is one of the most famous exponents of Ethiojazz. He’s known as the Negus of Ethiopian Sax and has worked with bands such as the Either/Orchestra and The Ex. This recording, though, was made before he was even exposed to jazz. ‘Shellela Besaxophone’, from 1959, is a take on a traditional shellela, a song sung by soldier bragging of their abilities, but instead of being sung by one man with a masenqo (one-stringed fiddle), Mèkurya has arranged it for his saxophone and the Haile-Selassie Theatre Orchestra.