MOJO’s David Hutcheon is currently holed-up in the Hilton Addis Ababa of his mind, compiling a list of the Top 10 essential Ethiopian jazz albums for next month’s How To Buy. This represents a wealth of music: from the summer of ’66 right up to the present day, from traditional instruments to a thrilling, cross-cultural collision of soul, jazz and good foot grooves.
Will keyboardist Hailu Mergia be contained to just his 1977 instrumentals with The Walias Band, Tche Belew? Can we really only have one album by the pioneering vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke? And which volume of the landmark French series Éthiopiques would you choose?
Please nominate your favourite albums and – important part – tell us why. The best comments will be printed in next month’s MOJO.