Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, brought to global attention by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch.
Meet Mulatu Astatke, the octogenarian maestro who continues to captivate global audiences as the undisputed godfather of Ethio-jazz. This legendary Ethiopian musician, with a salt-and-pepper mustache to match, isn't ready to hang up his hat just yet - not when there's still a world to unite through music!
Born in Jimma, some 350 kilometers southwest of Addis Abeba, Mulatu's love for music blossomed during his teenage years in the UK. While initially dreaming of becoming an engineer or a pilot, the allure of the theater and music classes he received led him down a different path. He went on to study music professionally, attending Trinity College of Music in London and eventually Berklee College of Music in the US - making history as the first African student to do so.
Fast forward to the 1960s and Mulatu found himself back in Ethiopia, at the heart of the infectious musical scene in Addis Abeba. This vibrant period earned the city the nickname "swinging Addis." However, following the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie and the rise of the military-marxist Derg regime in 1974, Western music and culture were suppressed.
Mulatu describes this period as a struggle, as he honed his skills as a music teacher during this politically charged time. But international recognition came in 1998 when the Ethiopiques series was released, reissuing some of the best gems of Swinging Addis. Album number four was dedicated entirely to Mulatu, reigniting his global career.
A significant turning point in Mulatu's career occurred in 2005 with the release of the film Broken Flowers, directed by Jim Jarmusch, which prominently featured four of his compositions in the soundtrack. Since then, Mulatu has shown no signs of slowing down, with plans to release a new album this year, titled Mulatu plays Mulatu.
One of Mulatu's most iconic songs, "Tezeta" - meaning "nostalgia" in Amharic - is a sultry, soulful ballad that showcases his exceptional fusion of traditional Ethiopian melodies with elements of Latin jazz and funk. To Mulatu, however, there's no room for nostalgia - his focus remains on his mission to unite the world through music.
In true fashion, Mulatu will hit the stage at the Salle Pleyel in Paris this September, testing the boundaries of time as he seamlessly transcends generations with his enduring legacy and timeless music. Keep an eye out for this one-of-a-kind artist, whose fenomenal sound continues to echo across the globe!
[Sources: AFP, Afropop Worldwide]
[Related Topics: Mulatu Astatke, Jazz, African music, Latest news]
- Mulatu Astatke, the Ethio-jazz pioneer, was born in the rural town of Jimma despite his dreams of becoming an engineer or a pilot.
- During the 1960s, Mulatu returned to Ethiopia where he became part of the lively music scene in Addis Abeba, which earned the city the nickname "swinging Addis."
- Despite the political suppression of Western music and culture, Mulatu continued to refine his music teaching skills during a challenging time in Ethiopia's history.
- In 2005, Mulatu gained international recognition once again with the release of the film Broken Flowers, featuring four of his compositions in the soundtrack, and plans to release a new album this year called Mulatu plays Mulatu.
