In his sixties Mulatu Astatke was discovered by a Western audience. His wonderful mix of jazz and Ethiopian folk music was also heard by the Either / Orchestra, a jazz group from Boston. The shared love for jazz and African music has now resulted in an album after a number of concerts; Mulatu Steps Ahead. And Mulatu does indeed step forward with nine of his own compositions. Of all the Ethiopian
… artists who created a furore in Addis Abeba during the 1970s, Mulatu Astatke has the most inclination towards jazz. Not surprising, when you consider that the vibraphonist Astatke already studied in England and the United States in the 1950s. The opening track breathes the New York of the fifties, but Green Africa is colored by the sound of the krar, an ancient Ethiopian harp. The thrilling The Way To Nice would have suited the soundtrack of a thriller. Variety is therefore an asset on this album, which is tailor-made for afro jazz fans. (PdK)more
