Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke updates his classics on new album

Mulatu Astatke enlists L.A. aces Carlos Niño & Kibrom Birhane to refresh some of his best-loved tunes for Mulatu Plays Mulatu. 

Here's the scoop...

Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.

Featuring masterful new arrangements of some of his classic compositions, Mulatu Plays Mulatu finds Mulatu revisiting the sounds that helped to change the face of Ethiopian music during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The album was recorded between London and Addis Ababa, working with his long-standing UK band, a tight, intuitive ensemble honed through years of live performance, alongside cultural musicians resident at his Jazz Village club in Addis.

Mulatu Plays Mulatu realizes Mulatu’s long-term vision of Ethio-jazz, intricately balancing Western jazz arrangements with the rich sounds of traditional Ethiopian instruments including the krar, masenqo, washint, kebero and begena. Throughout the album, he reshapes familiar material with rich textures, expanded improvisations and a deepened rhythmic complexity, creating a body of work that feels as vital and contemporary as it does steeped in tradition. Familiar compositions like ‘Yekermo Sew,’ ‘Nètsanèt’ and the celebratory ‘Kulun’ are reinvented here as elegant big band performances.

“Ethio-jazz brings us together and makes us one,” explains Mulatu. “This album is the culmination of my work bringing this music to the world and pays respect to our unsung heroes, the original musical scientists in Ethiopia who gave us our cultural music.”

Bridging continents and generations throughout his 50-year career, Astatke now offers us an invitation to hear his music again, with a completely fresh perspective. Ethio-jazz, like its creator, is always in motion.

Mulatu Plays Mulatu was produced by Dexter Story and features contemporary artists LA-based artists Carlos Niño and Kibrom Birhane. The album was recorded and mixed by Isabel Gracefield at RAK Studios in London and by Dexter Story in Addis. The inspired album artwork was created by acclaimed Oslo-based Ethiopian artist, Wendimagegn Belete with photography by Alexis Maryon. 

You can pre-order Mulatu Astatke's Mulatu Plays Mulatu on vinyl or CD via Bandcamp right here. Note: The CD version has 4 extra tracks. Check out "Nètsanèt" along with a video clip of a Sao Paulo performance of "The Way To Nice"  following the track listing below. 

Mulatu Plays Mulatu (vinyl edition)

A1. Zelesenga Dewel

A2. Kulun

A3. Nètsanèt

B1. Yekermo Sew

B2. Chik Chikka

B3. Motherland

B4. Yekatit

Mulatu Plays Mulatu (CD edition)

1.Zelesenga Dewel

2. Kulun

3. Nètsanèt

4.Yekermo Sew

5.Azmari

6.Chik Chikka

7. The Way To Nice

8.Motherland Intro

9.Motherland

10.Mulatu

11.Yekatit

Mulatu Astatke vs. Horace Silver

Mulatu Astatke put his own Ethiopian spin on Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" and called it "Yèkèrmo Sèw"

Midweek Mixdown: Agogo Records 2020

Here's an excellent overview of 2020's releases including a gem from Mulatu & BJE put out by Germany's Agogo Records.

Agogo's 2020 7-track label sampler is currently available for free download right here. 

Agogo 2020

1. Hoodna Orchestra - Sof Layla (Ba Hoodna) 04:09

2. Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience - Ambassa Lemdi 05:51

3. Wanubalé - Nadra 05:23

4. Coladera - Mantafro (Jazzanova Remix) 05:05

5. Natalie Greffel - Toquei 05:06

6. Coladera - A Luz De Yayá 04:03

7. King Most - Jazzy As Fug 03:34

Quarantunes: Fábio Marinho & Nicolas Pedrozo

Brazilian guitarist/trumpeter Fábio Marinho and saxophonist/bassist Nicolas Pedrozo knocked out a sweet Ethio-jazz salute to Mulatu Astatke.

Imperial Tiger Orchestra vs. Mulatu Astatke

The Imperial Tiger Orchestra boldly take on Ethio-jazz giant Mulatu Astatke with a rousing rip through "Emnete"

Mulatu Astatke @ The Great Hall, Wednesday

Ethiopian jazz innovator Mulatu Astatke plays a sold-out Toronto show at the Great Hall on Wednesday. 

Midweek Mixdown: Mulatu Astatke – The Story Of Ethio Jazz

Here's a selection of Mulatu's timeless recordings. He returns to Toronto for a show at the Great Hall on May 15th. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Canaille?

Canaille's widely slept-on Practical Men album is one of the best Toronto jazz recordings you've never heard.  

Formed by saxophonist Jeremy Strachan (Minotaurs, Muskox, Feuermusik), Canaille is one of many intriguing projects to come out of Toronto’s underexposed experimental music scene which never really got it's due.

Following the release of 2009’s all acoustic Potential Things, Canaille grew into an electric sextet with a sonic conception rooted in Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis mixed with a healthy dose of vintage ethio-funk of Mulatu Astatke and topped with the bent melodic sense of late 1950s Sun Ra. In fact, the group's amazing second full-length Practical Men – recorded & engineered by Jeff McMurrich and released by Komino Records in 2011 – came neatly bookended by two Akestra classics, "Watusa" and "Love In Outer Space."

Featured on the Practical Men album along with Jeremy Strachan (bari/alto/flute/guitar) is Jay Hay (tenor), Nicolas Buligan (trumpet), Jesse Levine (keyboards), Mike Smith (bass) and Dan Gaucher (drums) who together knocked out what sounds like a lost private-press spiritual jazz masterwork from the mid-70s. Fans of contemporary artists drawing on similar inspiration such as The Heliocentrics, El Michels Affair, Yesterdays New Quintet, Whitfield Brothers, Atlantis Jazz Ensemble, Karl Hector & The Malcouns will be pleasantly surprised by Canaille's unjustly overlooked gem. Have a listen below.

Midweek Mixdown: Son Zoo's Ethio Selection

Here's an entrancing 38-minute Ethiopian mix courtesy of Radio Afrique's Sonny Abegaze aka DJ Son Zoo.

Krar Collective – Ethiopia's White Stripes – rock Lula Lounge Sunday

This rare T.O. show by Genet Assefa and Temesgen Zeleke promises to be a Small World Fest highlight. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Tèwèldè Rèdda

Here's an overlooked cooker from the Eritrean guitar ace.  

Whadya mean you don't know Seifu Yohannes

Ebo Lala by Seifu Yohannes   

One For The Weekend: Dr. John

Mulatu & The Heliocentrics @ Nancy Jazz Pulsations

Dan Auerbach goes Ethiopian with Dr. John

The first track to appear from Dr. John's new album Locked Down (out April 3) that the New Orleans icon recorded in collaboration with the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach is the Farfisa-backed cooker Revolution. 

Just as interesting as the unusually overt political commentary from the artist formerly known as Mac Rebennack is the way in which the horns, drums and wheezing organ are used to create a throwback Ethiopian groove. If it wasn't for Dr. John's familiar growl, you could easily mistake Revolution for a late 60s Mulatu Asatatke joint straight outta Addis Ababa. Looking forward to hearing if that sneaky Auerbach tries to incorporate some Girma Bèyènè and Mahmoud Ahmed moves on the other tracks. Listen to Revolution right here.

One For The Weekend: Mulatu Astatke

The Way To Nice by Mulatu Astatke in Brazil

Helios repeat Mulatu magic with Lloyd Miller

Two years ago funky drummer Malcom Catto and his nine strong Heliocentrics massive joined  Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke on stage as part of Karen P's Broad Casting series at Cargo. The sold-out gig went so well, they wound up collaborating in the studio a few months later on a fantastic album which became the third volume of the Strut label's Inspiration Information project. Evidently, that was just the beginning of Catto's cultural collision experiments.

While critics were heaping praise on the Helios better-than-anticipated Mulatu collabo, Catto and crew were busily making plans for an encore adventure, this time involving legendary ethnomusicologist and mult-instrumentalist Dr. Lloyd Miller. The title of Jazzman's career retrospective of Miller's work, A Lifetime In Oriental Jazz, is quite apt as the longtime University of Utah professor has been exploring Middle Eastern music since his first trip to Iran in the late 50s. Long before the term "world music" was coined, Miller was traveling around Europe in the 60s, applying traditional Middle Eastern instruments, rhythms and scales in different contexts with fellow forward looking artists such as Don Ellis and Jef Gilson. Suffice it to say that Miller was well-prepared for a monumental throwdown with the Heliocentrics crew which is due out August 1 on disc followed by a vinyl release on August 31.
Here's what you're in for...

Fantasia, Part 1

1. ELECTRICONE
2. NAVA
3. MANDALA
4. SPIRITUAL JAZZ
5. BALI BRONZE
6. FANTASIA Pt. 1
7. MODALITY
8. SALENDRO
9. PARI RU
10. LLOYD’S DIATRIBE
11. FANTASIA Pt. 2
12. CHAHARGAH
13. SUNDA SUNSET










Gol-e Gandom by Lloyd Miller on Iranian TV 1965




Yèkèrmo Sèw by Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics



Yèkatit by Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics

Mulatu of Ethiopia... and Brooklyn

Ever since the darkly exotic music of Mulatu Astatke was given a starring role in Jim Jarmusch's quirky comedy Broken Flowers, people have been booking flights to Addis Ababa and turning over rocks to uncover more of Mulatu's magical Ethiopian jazz innovations from the 60s and 70s. While a portion of his vintage work has appeared as part of the excellent Ethiopiques series – Vol. 4: Ethio-Jazz and Musique Instrumental 1969 - 1974 (Buda) culls 14 instrumental tracks from two Ethiopian LPs originally issued in 1972 and 1974 – there's still loads of amazing stuff to be rediscovered. His enjoyable Latin-flavoured jams recorded in Brooklyn and issued in small runs on the tiny Addis Ababa and Worthy labels was the source of Mulatu's initial profile boost amongst vinyl hounds, beat diggers and club selectors yet for a long time the only way you could get Mulatu of Ethiopia, Afro-Latin Soul and Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 2 was dropping serious dough.

Clearly, a comprehensive Mulatu Astatke career overview is long overdue. While the Strut label's new Mulatu reissue comp New York - Addis - London: The Story Of Ethio-Jazz 1965-1975 is by no means definitive, the 20-track set is well-intended attempt to at least cover the bases. Compiled by Soundway label boss Miles Cleret (who also supplies the informative notes), the set is could be considered an expanded version of his own label's Multatu Astatke 10" EP from 2005 as those same four tracks Emnete, Ebo Lala, Yefikir Tizita and Asiyo Bellema are used as the jump off point for a sampling of Mulatu's London and New York work before returning to Ethiopia for his classic Amha label joints that have already appeared in the Ethiopiques series.     
It's all solid material and if you liked what you heard in Broken Flowers, there's much more to love here but it would've made for a more worthwhile release had Cleret dug up more of Mulatu's exciting recordings not previously compiled elsewhere. Still New York - Addis - London is the best single disc survey of Mulatu's incredible legacy available, if only by default. Listen here: mulatu-ethiojazz.com

One Mulatu Astatke track that was missed, Alemiye (featuring Belaynesh Wubante and Assegedetch Asfaw), appears on the super dope Psych Funk 101 (World Psychedelic Funk Classics) CD/LP collection which takes a tip from B-Music's Cross Continental Record Raid Road Trip series to seek out fuzzy funked-up obscurities from Turkey, Russia, Iran, South Korea and other far-flung places you wouldn't expect overamped head-nodders to have been cut in the late 60s and early 70s.
Apart from the top-notch track listing – including fab freakouts from the mysterious Staff Carpenborg, Italian exploito-soundtrack ace Armando Sciascia and George Garanian's well-respected Melodiya Jazz Ensemble – the great thing about this diverse set is the packaging which includes a 36-page booklet filled with fantastic full colour sleeve images from the original records which you'll never otherwise encounter in this lifetime. Right on!
If Psych Funk 101 has the look and feel of one of Stones Throw's Now Again comps, it might have something to do with the fact that label honcho Egon assisted with the licensing. It's also available at a reasonable price on the Stones Throw site: stonesthrow.com

Not to be outdone by some achivist upstarts, Egon has assembled a killer psych set of his own called Forge Your Own Chains: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads and Dirges 1968-1974 (Now Again) CD/2LP. It comes packed tight with brilliant brain scramblers from mad, bad and sometimes sad hombres like Baby Grandmothers, Shin Jung Hyun & The Men, Kourosh Yaghmaei, T. Zchiew & The Johnny along with some creeps you may have actually heard about such as Morly Grey, East Of Underground, Shadrack Chameleon and Montreal sluggers Ellison. The accompanying documentation is just as tight and I'm not just saying that because I contributed a few lines to the liner notes. Initial copies ordered from the Stones Throw site come with a limited Guilty Simpson-blessed promo single My Time To Shine. You'll need it.

Here are the tracks:
1. Top Drawer “Song of a Sinner” 8:44
2. Sensational Saints “How Great Thou Art” 3:35
3. East of Underground “Smiling Faces Sometimes” 6:27
4. D.R. Hooker “Forge Your Own Chains” 4:45
5. Shin Jung Hyun and the Men feat. Jang Hyun “Twilight” 5:40
6. T. Zchiew and The Johnny “Let Yourself Be Free” 3:46
7. The Strangers “Two To Make A Pair” 2:52
8. Damon “Don't You Feel Me” 2:36
9. Ellison “Strawberry Rain” 5:33
10. Morly Grey “Who Can I Say You Are” 3:45
11. Shadrack Chameleon “Don't Let It Get You Down” 4:44
12. Ofege “It's Not Easy” 4:25
13. Ana Y Jaime “Nina Nana” 3:18
14. Kourosh Yaghmaei “Hajm-e Khaali” 2:42
15. Baby Grandmothers “Somebody's Calling My Name” 9:13