Éthiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz 1969–1974 - Mulatu Astatke
Album
The place to start. Mulatu Astatke, who studied in London and at Berklee in Boston, is the father of Ethio-jazz, and this compilation gathers his key recordings from 1969 to 1974. His vibraphone and the horns trace Ethiopian modal melodies over jazz and Latin grooves. Yèkèrmo Sèw, later used in Jim Jarmusch's film Broken Flowers, is the track that hooks most listeners, and Tezeta shows the longing of the tizita mode.