Over the past couple of years, you can’t have failed to have spotted that Mulatu Astatke is one of the biggest influences in world music and here’s a handy retrospective to prove it.

Some would say the reason Mulatu’s music is belatedly reaching such a global audience was due to the release of the Ethiopiques album series or his music featuring on the soundtrack to the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers (see review HERE); but I’d say it was the 10” released in 2005 on Miles Claret’s Soundway label that that introduced his music to a new generation of fans, who could resist that cover and those Ethio-jazz classics?

Appropriately enough Miles provides the notes to accompany the CD but all you really need to know is that Mulatu Astake is the definition of Ethio Jazz and this compilation covers the most original and formative 10 years.

All the big ‘uns are here, ‘Yekermo Sew’, ‘Emnete’, ‘Mulatu’, ‘Yekatit’ and the monster, ‘Yegelle Tezeta’. You’ve heard them before or you’ve heard the Inspiration Information ‘versions’ on the Mulatu Astatke / The Heliocentrics’ Inspiration Information Vol. 3 album (don’t forget to check the latest, the fantastic Vol. 4 of Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen, see HERE) but they sound so fresh and timeless.

And it’s not just Addis that this story covers, the New York connection (via the Ethiopean Airlines; see catch up with Carlos Niño when Mulatu visited Los Angles - see HERE) and the cross genre pollination with Fania influences on tracks like ‘I Faram Gami I Faram’ and the Caribean ‘Asiyo Belmea’ and pure Latin/Modern Jazz Quintet of ‘Girl From Addis Ababa’ and ‘Shagu’; just love those jazzy vibes man.

And you know the one’s that are from Addis Addiba as they are the ones with vocals. Menelik Wossenatchew (where is he now) on ‘Fikratchin’ has such a delicate voice and ‘Lantci Biye’ (with Tilahoun Gessesse) and ‘Ebo Lala’ with Seifu Yohannes (remember Peterson’s interview with Ehiopiques….a while back and how did these guys get overlooked? (in Europe he meant, as Addis rocked alright!); and arguable best of the lot, Muluken Melesse on ‘Wubit’.

OK, so where does London fit in I here you say. Well he did study in London in the 60s and as we’re talking mid 60s to 70s lets say it’s all about the psych ‘peace and love’ Ethio jazz tracks like ‘Yekitir Tezeta’, the acid groove of ‘Netsanet’ and the jazzy break down of ‘Dewel’.

So 20 massive tracks that you’ll never (and I mean never) get tired of - Mulatu is the man and he’s still so cool (remember the Glastonbury and Big Chill gigs?); you’ll love this album, trust me.

Reviewed: Mulatu Astatke - New York - Addis - London : The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965 - 1975 (Strut) Cat. No. STRUT051CD (CD/2xLP) Release date: 26th October 2009
Tracklisting:
1. ASIYO BELEMA (feat. Frank Holder)
2. MASCARAM SETABA (with Ethiopian Quintet)
3. I FARAM GAMI FARAM (with Ethiopian Quintet)
4. SOUL POWER (with Ethiopian Quintet)
5. GIRL FROM ADDIS ABABA (with Ethiopian Quintet)
6. SHAGU (Mulatu Astatke Quartet)
7. MULATU
8. DEWEL
9. NETSANET
10. YEKATIT
11. ENE ALANCHIE ALNOREM
12. YEGELLA TEZETA
13. YEKERMO SEW
14. TEZETA
15. EMNETE
16. YEKITIR TEZETA
17. LANCHI BIYE with Tilahoun Gessesse
18. FIKRATCHIN with Menelik Wossenatchew
19. EBO LALA with Seifu Yohannes
20. WUBIT with Muluken Melesse
21. KASALEFKUT HULU with Tilahoun Gessesse

Links:
www.strut-records.com