ABOUT

A true master and champion of African music, Mulatu Astatke is a multi-talented Ethiopian composer, vibraphone virtuoso, and multi-instrumentalist whose mastery extends to percussion, keyboards, and string instruments. Over the decades, he has achieved cult status; his recordings—particularly those with The Heliocentrics—are now considered essential classics of the world music scene.
In the 1970s, Astatke introduced the world to his signature style, Ethio-jazz, a fusion that transformed how Ethiopia was perceived globally: as a source of authentic, pioneering music. Beyond the stage and the studio, he is deeply involved in music theory and the reconstruction of traditional instruments, a passion he has pursued through prestigious institutions like Harvard University.
Today, his influence spans genres; his tracks have been sampled by hip-hop heavyweights like Nas, Damian Marley, Kanye West, Cut Chemist, and K’naan. He also captured the hearts of cinephiles by contributing seven tracks to the iconic soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers. This performance by a living legend of ethnic music promises to be a landmark event for long-time fans and a profound discovery for younger audiences alike.

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