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Afro Latin Soul (Volume 1 & 2)
ReleaseProduct
Afro Latin Soul (Volume 1 & 2)
Artist
Mulatu Astatke
Label
Strut
Catalogue Number
STRUT156D
Release Date
July 20, 2018

Strut continue their essential work with the “Godfather Of Ethio Jazz”, Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics ‘Afro Latin Soul’ Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet.

Arriving after Astatke’s life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. “I have always felt a deep connection between Latin and African music,” he explains. “I travelled to Cuba and listened to their musicians; the tempo, rhythm and feeling was very similar to different African forms. In the mid-‘60s, I formed a band called The Ethiopian Quintet in New York comprising Ethiopian, Latin and Afro-American musicians - the band included trumpeter and pianist Rudy Houston who later played with Yambu and Felix Torres who played with La Sonora Poncena.” Supported by Worthy Records’ Gil Snapper who offered to record the quintet,

Astatke began to experiment during two separate sessions: “We created a different feel and different arrangements. On the first recording, I played an adaptation of an ancient Ethiopian warrior song, ‘I Faram Gami I Faram’ - the lyrics were translated so that the singer could sing it in Spanish. Some compositions were important steps for me: ‘Mascaram Setaba’ (‘Summer Is Coming’) ‘Shagu’ and ‘Almaz’. With the second album, a personal favourite is ‘Girl From Addis Ababa’ which worked very nicely as a fusion of Ethiopian modes and R&B rhythms.” Astatke would start to perfect his Ethio jazz sound on his later album for Worthy

in 1972, ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ (STRUT129) but the two volumes of ‘Afro Latin Soul’ stand as important recordings documenting his early career. “It was a very interesting time to be in New York during the mid-‘60s. I was there at the same time as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti and we each tried to play our part in putting Africa on the map of contemporary jazz.”

‘Afro Latin Soul’ Volumes 1 and 2 come in their full original artwork and are painstakingly remastered by The Carvery. All formats feature personal liner notes by Mulatu Astatke.

Digital Track List

  1. 1 I Faram Gami I Faram Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 2:19 Buy

    I Faram Gami I Faram

  2. 2 Mascaram Setaba Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 1:51 Buy

    Mascaram Setaba

  3. 3 Shagu Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 3:06 Buy

    Shagu

  4. 4 One For Buzayhew Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 4:32 Buy

    One For Buzayhew

  5. 5 Alone In The Crowd Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 3:56 Buy

    Alone In The Crowd

  6. 6 Almaz Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 2:53 Buy

    Almaz

  7. 7 Mulatu’s Hideaway Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 2:55 Buy

    Mulatu’s Hideaway

  8. 8 Askum Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 2:10 Buy

    Askum

  9. 9 A Kiss Before Dawn Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 3:11 Buy

    A Kiss Before Dawn

  10. 10 Playboy Cha Cha Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet 3:59 Buy

    Playboy Cha Cha

Show All Tracks 19

AFRO LATIN SOUL VOLUME 1

A1. I FARAM GAMI I FARAM 2.25
A2. MASCARAM SETABA 1.47
A3. SHAGU 3.00
A4. ONE FOR BUZAYHEW 3.25
A5. ALONE IN THE CROWD 4.00
B1. ALMAZ 2.50
B2. MULATU’S HIDEAWAY 2.40
B3. ASKUM 2.04
B4. A KISS BEFORE DAWN 3.15
B5. PLAYBOY CHA CHA 3.50

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AFRO LATIN SOUL VOLUME 2

A1. THE PANTHER (BOOGALOO) 2.20
A2. KONJIT (PRETTY) 3.07
A3. SOUL POWER 5.05
A4. LOVER’S MAMBO 2.10
A5. LOVE MOOD FOR TWO 4.15
B1. JIJIGER 2.22
B2. GIRL FROM ADDIS ABABA 3.50
B3. KARAYU 3.52
B4. RAINA 4.38

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Mulatu Astatke

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