Jorga Mesfin

Jorga Mesfin was born in November 1977 as the first child for his family. He 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.

Jorga's love for the saxophone persisted through his college years. While pursuing a BA in Chemistry at Guilford College in the United States and later obtaining a Masters at Emory University, he found solace in the language of music. Initially engaged with the Ministry of Health in the states, his trajectory shifted in 2006, transitioning into a full-time musician with over two decades of experience.

The Latin jazz ensemble, Cojunto Sareunge, marked Jorga's initiation into the professional music scene in North Carolina, USA. After the members of his first group separated, he moved to Atlanta and co-founded the Ethio jazz group, Wudasse with his friends Teferi Assefa and Fasil Wuhib. Wudasse may have disbanded, but Jorga continued collaborating with Teferi Assefa in his band, Negarit, showcasing the enduring bonds forged through music.

Jorga's impact extends beyond the stage, as he ventured into film composition for notable Ethiopian movies like Teza by Haile Gerima for which he won the award for Best Music Selection at the twenty-second Carthage Film Festival and Best Composer Award at the fifth Dubai International Film Festival. Taza by Kidist Yilma, Min Alesh by Amleset Muche and Qurangaye by Dr. Moges Tafesse are other notable films for which he has produced soundtracks.

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."