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Mulatu Astatke is a legendary Ethiopian musician known for his influential role in the development of Ethio-jazz, a unique blend of Ethiopian traditional music with jazz and Latin influences. Born in Ethiopia, he studied music in London, Boston, and New York during the 1960s before returning home with a passion for jazz and Latin music. Astatke is primarily a composer and a multi-instrumentalist, proficient in the vibraphone, keyboards, and organs. He played a significant role in introducing congas and bongos into Ethiopian music, shifting the focus from traditional vocal-centric songs to instrumentation. His early work includes three LPs recorded in New York City: Afro-Latin Soul Volumes 1 & 2 in 1966 and Mulatu of Ethiopia in 1972. Most of his music was released through Amha Records in Addis Ababa, including several 7” singles and the LP Yekatit Ethio-Jazz in 1974. In recent years, Astatke has gained renewed attention in the West, particularly through the Ethiopiques compilation series and his music's feature in Jim Jarmusch’s 2005 film, Broken Flowers. Currently, he is working on a project to re-record some of his older works and create new original material in collaboration with notable musicians, including drummer Max Weissenfeldt, a trumpeter, and Showboy from Fela Kuti’s band.

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