Éthiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale (1969-1974)

With its seamless feats of cross-cultural alchemy, this fourth volume in the ongoing series of Ethiopian and Eritrean jazz performances blows our minds. Free jazz melds with hard bop on the frenetic "Dèwèl (Bell)," while modal jazz fuses with American soul on the ultra-cool "Ené Alantchi Alnorem (I Can't Live Without You)." All of this is presented with a dash of traditional African rhythms folded subtly into the mix, proving that music truly is a universal language.