Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke recently concluded his final live performance during a concert held in London. At 82 years old, this iconic figure, who has spent over six decades pioneering a unique musical fusion, took a graceful bow to acknowledge his audience one last time. Mulatu’s career gained broader international recognition about two decades ago, notably after his music featured in the 2005 Hollywood movie *Broken Flowers*, and his recordings experienced renewed interest following their inclusion in the Oscar-nominated film *Nickel Boys* last year.
Throughout his extensive career, Mulatu has treated music creation as a kind of scientific exploration, blending diverse styles in the studio to form what he terms Ethio-jazz. This genre fuses Ethiopian traditional music, particularly rooted in the Ethiopian Orthodox church’s pentatonic scale, with jazz influences from across the globe. At the recent show, the first piece performed was set to a 4th-century Ethiopian church tune, embodying his deep cultural heritage. The concert took place in a cozy West End venue, where Mulatu entered dressed in a shirt featuring designs by Ethiopian artist Afework Tekle and picked up his signature instrument, the vibraphone, delivering his mesmerizing sound with distinctive mallets.
Fans and fellow musicians at the event expressed heartfelt emotions about Mulatu’s retirement from live touring. US jazz composer Dexter Story described the concert as “bittersweet,” praising the vibrant energy and calling it a loss that such talent would no longer be seen performing worldwide. London-based admirer Juweria Dino emphasized the significance of Mulatu’s work as an introduction to Ethiopian culture through music, highlighting the global appreciation his compositions have received. Mulatu himself remains committed to elevating the profile of African music, lamenting the insufficient recognition of the continent’s cultural contributions despite its rich legacy.
Born in 1943 in Jimma, Ethiopia, Mulatu’s journey to becoming a global music icon began early when his parents sent him to school in North Wales. Initially interested in engineering, Mulatu’s talent for music was nurtured by school mentors who encouraged him to pursue it professionally. His formal music education continued at Trinity College in London and later at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he became the first African student and developed his proficiency in vibraphone and percussion. Returning to Addis Ababa in 1969, he integrated his learning with traditional Ethiopian modalities, crafting the distinctive Ethio-jazz sound during the culturally vibrant “Swinging Addis” era, despite initial resistance from some listeners.
Mulatu’s work intricately weaves traditional Ethiopian instruments such as the washint flute, kebero drum, and the masenqo fiddle with modern musical elements. He notes the unique timbre of the masenqo, comparing it to a cello, and reflects on the uncredited genius behind many African innovations, calling for greater acknowledgment of these cultural contributions. His legacy continues through multiple generations of fans who have followed his music over the years. While live concerts may have ended, Mulatu assures that his dedication to sharing Ethiopian music on the global stage is far from over, emphasizing, “It’s not the end.”
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.