Éthiopiques, Vol. 14: Negus of Ethiopian Sax - Getatchew Mekurya

Saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya took the shellela, a fierce warrior's boasting chant, and played it on tenor sax, producing a raw, wild sound that listeners often compare to American free jazz, though it came from Ethiopian tradition. The melodies are still there under the growls and cries. Choose it as the most intense record on the list, best heard after the smoother Golden Age albums.