Ethiopian musician and arranger Mulatu Astatke is best known as the father of Ethio-jazz. Born in the western Ethiopian city of Jimma, Mulatu was, however, musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston, where he combined his love of jazz and Latin music with traditional Ethiopian music. Leading his band, playing vibraphone and conga drums […]
Tuesday’s Tune: Kasalefkut-Hulu
Ethiopian musician and arranger Mulatu Astatke is best known as the father of Ethio-jazz.
Born in the western Ethiopian city of Jimma, Mulatu was, however, musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston, where he combined his love of jazz and Latin music with traditional Ethiopian music. Leading his band, playing vibraphone and conga drums (instruments that he introduced into Ethiopian popular music) as well as other percussion instruments, keyboards and organ, Astatke appears on all three albums, released during Ethiopia’s Golden ’70s.
This song, Kasalefkut-Hulu (From All The Time I Have Passed), is from the album Ethiopiques Vol.4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974. It sits and drinks whiskey in the dimly lit jazz clubs of the late ’60s, while transporting itself to the dusty feet-slamming, arm-waving, ass-shaking desert vibes of it’s own African-roots. It’s good. It’s on repeat. I highly recommend it.
