You want a new genre of music? How about “Ethio-Jazz”? That’s what producer/arranger/vibist/pianist/keyboardist and leader Mulatu Astatke calls this music, and who am I to argue? It sounds GREAT, no matter what label you want to stick on it. The musicians that he leads include traditional jazzers like trumpet, piano/keyboards, reeds, bass and drums, but then you’ve got these exotic Eastern African strings and things to hit and pluck/strum like the krarr and the masinko that you’ll have to look up in Google Images.
The music itself is wondrous and wonderful. Some of it is straightforward, almost like acoustic outtakes of vintage Weather Report on exciting pieces such as “Azmari” and “Hager Fiker”. Other tracks, especially with vocalists Tesfaye or Fatoumata Diawara, make you think that this is what Tower of Power would sound like if they grew up in Addis Ababa instead of Oakland. The horn riffs and funky backbeat get your feet moving, yet the embellishments by the traditional instruments create an exotic mix that adds flavor to the funk. This is a real treat, and if you want something new that doesn’t jar your ears, check it out!
Harmonia Mundi
www.harmoniamundi.com