Shine a Light: Mulatu Astatke POSTED:: December 17, 2009
FILED UNDER::
General
FILED UNDER:: General
WMSE’s broad spectrum programming is renowned: folk, jazz, blues, alternative, hip hop, classical and more is what one can expect on any given day, but we at WMSE realize you can’t catch it all. That’s why we’re here to shine a light on some of the best and most intriguing new sounds that you might hear once or twice a week if you’re listening at just the right time. For those who might not be listening at those precise moments, here’s what’s been tickling our ears in particular, lately.
Mulatu Astatke – the founder of Ethio jazz has recently resurfaced into the spotlight with the recent re-release of some of is most famous work, properly tributing a true jazz pioneer and creative mind. So, what’s the story on Astatke?
According to Astatke’s web site, this is the foundation of the magic of Mulatu: ”Born in Jimma, Ethiopia, Mulatu Astatke studied at Lindisfarne College and Trinity College of Music in England and Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. As a vibraphone, conga and percussion player, he has performed at numerous concerts in Ethiopia and abroad, including appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Lincoln Center in New York, Beethoven-Haus in Bonn and Barbican Center in London. Mulatu also performed as a guest artist with the Duke Ellington orchestra during its visit to Ethiopia in 1971. Most recently, Mulatu has contributed prominently to the soundtrack of the film Broken Flowers.”
Astatke’s recent retrospective release on Strut Records displays his work from the 1960′s and 1970′s ( Mulatu Astatke: New York-Addis-London, 1965-1975), showcasing his worldly jazz compositions, pieced together with a bit of Ethiopian (“Ethio”) musical history, plenty of oddball notes and keys and both Western jazz and Arabian influences floating throughout.