Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu of Ethiopia Vinyl Record

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu of Ethiopia Vinyl Record

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Discover one of the defining albums of Ethio-jazz with Mulatu Astatke’s Mulatu of Ethiopia. Originally released in 1972, this landmark recording blends Ethiopian musical traditions with jazz, soul, funk, Latin rhythms, organ, horns, percussion, and hypnotic grooves to create a sound unlike almost anything else from the era.

Mulatu Astatke is widely recognized as a pioneer of Ethio-jazz, and Mulatu of Ethiopia captures his groundbreaking style at a crucial point in his career. The album moves effortlessly between smoky jazz arrangements, funky rhythms, haunting melodies, and distinctly Ethiopian musical influences.

Highlights include “Mulatu,” “Mascaram Setaba,” “Dewel,” “Kasalefkut-Hulu,” “Munaye,” and the expansive “Chifara,” making this an essential listen for fans of jazz, African music, funk, world music, and adventurous vinyl collecting.

Why You Need It Now

Mulatu of Ethiopia has grown into a highly respected cult classic and a cornerstone of Mulatu Astatke’s catalog. Whether you're already deep into Ethio-jazz or discovering the genre for the first time, this record delivers the kind of distinctive sound and atmosphere that deserves to be heard on vinyl.

Add this essential Mulatu Astatke album to your collection today while it’s available.

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Astatke MULATU OF ETHIOPIA [Records & LPs] 
Barcode: 730003312915

Mulatu Astatq? (also sometimes spelled Mulatu Astatke, as he is on the liner notes to this release) might be most known to international audiences through his tracks on the excellent Ethiopiques CD anthology series of Ethiopian music. Long before those tracks were compiled for that series, however, he had an American release with this 1972 instrumental album, on which he's billed as "Mulatu of Ethiopia." Like much of the best of the circa-early-'70s contemporary Ethiopian music on Ethiopiques, it's a fine, at times captivating blend of late-'60s American soul and jazz with Ethiopian music, resulting in something not quite comparable to anything else. It is undeniably funky, with wah-wah guitar and organ aplenty. There's plenty of contemporary jazz in the arrangements, too, the sax runs sometimes showing the influence of the likes of John Coltrane. Yet there's a melancholy minor cast to the melodies that marks this off as something quite different, and the rhythms likewise have irregularities that are more African than American. The only major strike against the LP is its short running time, with the seven tracks adding up to a mere 26-and-a-half minutes or so. ~ Richie Unterberger

• Released: 05/19/2017
• Format Detail: 1LP with 12" sheet and Download Code
• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Int'L & World Music