Mulatu Astatke

“Mulatu Plays Mulatu” (Strut, STRUTLP 482) is a rare gift: the father of Ethio jazz revisiting and reframing his own songbook with the authority of decades. Over modern, unhurried arrangements, Mulatu’s vibraphone and piano trace Ethiopian modes across Latin inflections, modal jazz changes and supple percussion, revealing new colors in classic themes. Recorded with a world class ensemble and presented on a rich sounding LP, it’s both a perfect introduction for newcomers and a treasure for long time devotees—a late career studio statement that feels timeless the moment the stylus drops.