Mulatu Astatké

Yekatit – Ethio Jazz (also Éthiopiques 4) “A mysterious, eerie portal into a whole other world ready to be explored.” Mark Raison, via Twitter

If Ethiopia ever had a Mod scene, Astatké was its ace face. He’d studied in London and New York (rather than learn his craft in a military band), befriending Ronnie Scott, the Coltranes et al (recording a lost album with Alice Coltrane), and releasing two volumes of Afro-Latin Soul. Back home, working as an arranger, he was the fulcrum of Swinging Addis (even hosting Duke Ellington in 1973). Though you won’t be disappointed if you buy

Mulatu Of Ethiopia instead, this is the pick of the two mid’70s long-players he recorded while trying to convince his homeland that jazz had African roots. Pulsating, slinky, woozy and funky as…