Mulatu Astatke | World Music Central

The album cover for Mulatu Plays Mulatu by Mulatu Astatke features a sepia-toned portrait of the artist in the center, framed by Ethiopian script and surrounded by intricate black-and-white illustrations of traditional instruments, cultural symbols, and historical imagery.

Album reviews

Mulatu Plays Mulatu’s Ethio-jazz Brings Us Together

Angel Romero August 30, 2025 No Comments Ethio-jazz Ethiopian Jazz Ethiopian music Mulatu Astatke vibraphone world fusion world music

Mulatu Astatke — Mulatu Plays Mulatu (Strut Records, 2025) Mulatu Plays Mulatu is Mulatu Astatke’s first major studio album in more than a decade. Furthermore,…

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Artist Profiles

Mulatu Astatke, the Father of Ethio-jazz

Angel Romero August 7, 2025 No Comments Ethio-jazz Ethiojazz Ethiopia Ethiopian Jazz Ethiopian music Mulatu Astatke world fusion world music

Mulatu Astatke (b. 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician, composer, and arranger widely regarded as the originator of Ethio-jazz, a genre that fuses Ethiopian…

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Mulatu Astatke - Tension cover artwork. A colorful illustration of Mulatu's face.

Album reviews

Ethio-Jazz Pioneer Mulatu Astatke Collaborates with Hoodna Orchestra on New Album Tension

Iliana Cabrera January 10, 2025 No Comments Ethiojazz Mulatu Astatke world fusion world music

Mulatu Astatke – Tension (Batov Records, 2024) Ethio-jazz legend Mulatu Astatke partnered with Tel Aviv’s Hoodna Orchestra on Tension, a fantastic seven-track album that mixes…

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The album cover for Alva by Mari Boine is a mix of natural and symbolic elements. Central to the composition is a white animal skull, possibly a deer or a similar creature, resting on a bed of lush greenery dotted with red berries and purple flowers. Draped over the skull is a reflective, circular ornament, resembling a cluster of sequins or mirrored disks. A vivid burst of color emerges from the left side, with diagonal streaks of pink, orange, and yellow.

Charts

Mari Boine Takes the Number One Spot on Transglobal World Music Chart for January 2025

World Music Central News Room January 1, 2025 No Comments Abdoulaye Traoré Aboubakar Traoré & Balima Achille Nacoulma Afro Celt Sound System Al Andaluz Project Amir Amiri Ensemble Ayom Baba Zula Bassałyki Boubacar Djiga Buzz’ Ayaz Carmen Souza Christine Zayed Clotilde Rullaud Djam!Dogo du Togo Driss El Maloumi Trio El Khat Elektro Hafız Gao Hong Hoodna Orchestra Jake Blount Jan Lundgren Japanistan Trio Justin Adams Kanazoe Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa Kengo Saito L'Alba Lara Wong Lo'Jo Lucibela Mali Obomsawin Manu Chao Mari Boine Mauro Durante Melón Jiménez Moana & The Tribe Mulatu Astatke Nesrine Norwegian music Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Peni Candra Rini Peter Somuah Rusan Filiztek Sámi music Seckou Keita Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 The Alagaa Beat Band The Bongo Hop Trendafilka Vigüela Warsaw Village Band Watar Quintet world fusion world music Yamandu Costa Zhou Xiaoxia

Alva by Mari Boine has claimed the number one position on the Transglobal World Music Chart for the month of January 2025. Mari Boine is…

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New CDs

Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience Release To Know Without Knowing

World Music Central News Room July 12, 2020 No Comments Black Jesus Experience Ethiojazz Mulatu Astatke

Ethiopian percussionist, composer and innovator Mulatu Astatke has released an album with Australian Ethiojazz band Black Jesus Experience titled ‘To Know Without Knowing” (Agogo Records).…

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