Mulatu Astatke | Afro-Latin Soul | Album

Released in 1966, Afro-Latin Soul (Volumes 1 and 2) marks the seminal New York recordings of Mulatu Astatke, the visionary musician widely credited as the "father of Ethio-jazz". Recorded in Brooklyn with his Ethiopian Quintet, these volumes represent an early, experimental fusion of traditional Ethiopian melodies with Latin jazz and R&B rhythms. Critics often view Afro-Latin Soul as a fascinating "proto-Ethio-jazz" document. While it lacks the dense, psychedelic brass of his later 1970s masterpieces, it provides more space for Astatke’s own vibraphone work to shine.

Artist Website: mulatuastatke.bandcamp.com

More by Artist: Mulatu Astatke

Related Artists: The Heliocentrics