Ethiopiqués Vol. 4 - Ethio-Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969 - 1974, Mulatu Astatke

Mulatu Astatke (born on December 19, 1943) is an Ethiopian musician and arranger best known as the father of Ethio-jazz.

Born in the western Ethiopian city of Jimma, Mulatu was musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston where he combined his jazz and Latin music interests with traditional Ethiopian music. Astatke led his band while playing vibraphone and conga drums—instruments that he introduced into Ethiopian popular music—as well as other percussion instruments, keyboards and organ. His albums focus primarily on instrumental music, and Astatke appears on all three known albums of instrumentals that were released during Ethiopia's Golden ’70s.

The Paris-based world music record label Buda Musique began the Éthiopiques series in 1997 and initially compiled Ethiopian popular music releases from the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the subsequent CDs focus on traditional music, while others highlight individual musicians or specific styles. Francis Falceto is the producer of the series.

In a 2012 interview, Getachew Mekurya noted that Falceto is largely responsible for the international popularization of Ethiopian music, and that Ethiopiques had directly led to more opportunities and international success for Mekurya. At the same time, Mekurya claimed that Falceto underpaid him and other Ethiopian musicians, and that Buda Musique retained the copyrights to most of the music. He further alleged that these business practices had infuriated Mulatu Astatke.

In defense Francis Falceto stated that "...most sad and embarrassing remains the maliciousness of a couple of unfair people who have been benefiting incredibly from éthiopiques, in terms of fame but also of royalties and concerts booking, but who give forth endless and sick accusations and ignominious lies – almost nothing, so to say, with regard to their dishonor".

Tracklist:

01. Yèkèrmo sèw - A Man Of Experience And Wisdom

02. .Mètché dershé - When Am I Going To Reach There

03. Kasalèfkut hulu -From All The Time I Have Passed

04. Tezeta - Nostalgia

05. Yègellé tezeta - My Own Memory

06. Munayé - My Muna

07. Gubèlyé - My Gubel

08. Asmarina - My Asmara

09. Yèkatit - February

10. Nètsanèt - Liberty

11. Tezetayé antchi lidj - Baby, my unforgettable remembrance

12. Sabyé - My Saba

13. Ené alantchi alnorem - I Can't Live Without You

14. Dèwèl - Bell

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