Search - Getatchew Mekurya and the Ex on DVD

Getatchew Mekurya and the Ex
Actors: Gtatchw Mkurya, Katherina Ex, Terrie Ex, Andy Moor, GW Sok
Director: Stphane Jourdain
Genres: Music Video & Concerts

NR 2008

This DVD by French filmmaker Stephane Jourdain documents practices by Dutch punk band The Ex and Ethiopian sax wonder Gétatchèw Mèkurya mixed with concert performances from the Banlieues Bleues Festival in Paris. After the... more »ir start in 1979, The Ex developed into a melting pot of divergent musical styles: noise, rock, jazz, improvisation, and ethnic music have been interwoven under one unique umbrella they call "Ex-music." Discordant, highly rhythmic guitars and a rolling African drumming style give the music of The Ex its special character. In 27 years The Ex have played 1,250 concerts all over the world, and released over 20 albums. Never pigeonholed into one of pop music's corny corners, The Ex is always open to new ideas and collaborations with musicians of all kinds. Their main principle remains: to make music with heart and soul, out of reach of commercial trends or expectations. Already well known from Ethiopiques volume 14, Gétatchèw Mèkurya is Ethiopia's most revered jazz saxophonist. "Buda Records' mind-expanding Ethiopiques series--23 discs strong and counting--is a treasure trove of strange and wonderful music, none more so than that contained on Negus of Ethiopian Sax, which is devoted to tenor saxophonist Gétatchèw Mèkurya and his shellela music. Unless you've already had the good fortune to encounter Ethiopiques, it's probably safe to say you won't have heard anything like it ever before. And almost as safe to predict you will be transfixed, transported and hooked." -- All About Jazz "When The Ex formed in 1979, the band was more a name spray-painted on the walls of the Netherlands than an actual musical endeavor ... The Ex made swift musical progress, though, and by the time they made their first recordings in 1980, four songs that comprised the self-released 7" All Corpses Smell the Same, they were a sturdy, rhythmic unit with a good sense of dynamics. It was the start of a prolific run that's now gone on for 27 years, putting them just behind The Fall for extended high achievement by a punk band." -- Pitchfork "One of the most striking volumes of this great series--a special edition of Ethiopiques that focuses on the mad saxophone work of Gétatchèw Mèkurya ... making for a sound that's almost like some of Pat Patrick's work for Sun Ra, but with a decidedly more ethnic feel." -- Dusty Grooves [Ethiopiques 14]

Larger Image

Movie Details

Actors: Gtatchw Mkurya, Katherina Ex, Terrie Ex, Andy Moor, GW Sok
Director: Stphane Jourdain
Genres: Music Video & Concerts
Sub-Genres: Pop, International
Studio: Buda Records
Format: DVD - Color
DVD Release Date: 03/11/2008
Original Release Date: 01/01/2008
Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2008
Release Year: 2008
Screens: Color
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 0
Edition: Import
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English

Similar Movies

The Ex Building a Broken Mousetrap
Director: Jem Cohen

NR 2008 1hr 2min

Mahmoud Ahmed Mahmoud Either Orchestra Ethiogroove

NR 2007

Movie Reviews

Getatchew & The EX

15 | San Francisco, Ca USA | 06/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the world beat "fusion" of the union of Ehtiopian saxophone player, Getatchew Mekurya and Holland's avant-garde noise masters, The EX is something very special indeed. the footage from behind the band will interest drummers especially in the unique style of Katerina Ex. Concert footage mixed with rehearsals, this DVD is highly recommended."