They say that coffee, the Garden of Eden, the Ark of the Covenant and even the Queen of Sheba all had their homes in Ethiopia. Guitarist and composer Jay Danley makes a good argument that jazz could list its origins there as well, as he takes Ethiopian themes and moods and combines them with his band to create not only a logical extension of jazz, but a return to its historic roots.
His band of Chris Gale-Elena Kapeleris/sax, Max Senitt/dr, Tyler Emond/b, Adam Hay/perc along with guests Hilario Duran/p, Rich Brown/b and Alexander Brown/tp create a rich soulful sway with deep rivulets on pieces like “Clean Water and a Bag of Rice” and the reggae-lilted (don’t forget that reggae also has its roots there) “The Solace of the Beating Heart” which feature foundations for rich soloing by Brown. The modal “Getachew” has Duran supplying earthy ivories to the crying tenor saxes, and dark hues of the sax arm wrestle with the trumpeter on “Mulatu.
All throughout the album, Danley’s rich chords guide, direct and coax the music with succinct solos and fervent chords, serving as a man at the reins as he keeps the stallions in check. This album is as rich and thick as the Blue Nile itself; give this guy a listen while sipping on your Tomoca.