Tesfa Maryam Kidane

About Tesfa Maryam Kidane

Tesfa Maryam Kidane was a saxophonist and flautist who helped shape the instrumental side of Ethiopia's golden age. Playing in the orchestras of Addis Ababa, he brought a cool, lyrical jazz sensibility to Ethiopian modes, and his recordings were later gathered on the Éthiopiques series. His work sits alongside Mulatu Astatke and Getatchew Mekurya as a cornerstone of early Ethio-jazz.