Jorga Mesfin

Jorga Mesfin grew up in a house filled with jazz records, mostly the greats. Immersed in the melodies of John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Kassa Tessema, Dr. Mulatu Astatke, and Jimmy Smith, his early musical influences laid the foundation for a profound connection with Ethio Jazz, with Dr. Mulatu Astatke standing out as his paramount inspiration. Jorga’s affinity for the saxophone found resonance in the sounds of John Coltrane and Getachew Mekuria, while Emahoy Tsege Mariam’s piano style further developed his musical palette.

His musical journey commenced with childhood improvisations, using the table as a makeshift piano. Recognizing his passion, Jorga’s mother enrolled him at Yared Music School at the age of 12, marking the beginning of formal piano lessons. The unavailability of saxophones in Ethiopia prompted him to wait until the age of 14, when a move to India for education allowed him to acquire his first saxophone from his high school.

A family connection to music persisted through his sister, Munit Mesfin, a singer-songwriter, even though neither of his parents had a musical background. Despite this fact, when he decided to pursue music as a profession, his parents were fully supportive. He even calls his mother his producer. Jorga says, “Music is the language I employ to articulate my deepest affections for God, life, family, and country. It is also a language of liberation and boundless imagination.”