Jan
05

I Can’t Go To Sleep: Mulatu Astatke – Mulatu Steps Ahead

With Strut’s tireless recent focus on Mulatu Astatke’s rich musical past, it was almost a relief earlier this year when the label unleashed a record of new material from the Ethio-jazz master. To be honest, the guy’s written music enough for two lifetimes – it would be easy for him to coast – but as… Continue reading »

May
03

Quantic – Mulatu Astatke Timeless Mix

Thanks to a savage flu that left me near collapse at a 7-11 in Monterrey Park (glamorous),  I missed Mulatu’s Timeless Performance from last year. Thankfully, Quantic has released his live DJ set from the evening, a mix consisting of all original vinyl excavated from the record bins of Addis Ababa. Empyrean horn sections, organ… Continue reading »

Oct
08

Mulatu Astatke: He’s So Hot Right Now

Poor “Jacobim” Mulatu Astatke–the man rivals Haile Sellassie for popularity in his native Ethiopia, and domestically, he’s still mistakenly conflated for the designer from Zoolander whose fashion aesthetic resembled a gay Colonel Sanders. I imagine I am the only one who thinks this. Regardless, it’s been a good year for the father of Ethio-Jazz, with… Continue reading »