Best of Ethiopian Jazz

Ethiopia's Mulatu Astatke is widely known as the father of Ethio-jazz, a fusion of jazz and Latin music with the traditional sounds of his homeland. His seminal '60s and '70s work, incorporating vibraphone, keyboards, and horns, carries an eerie, melancholy aura that led to numerous soundtrack placements following renewed global interest in his music in the '00s. Astatke's influence still looms large, while a host of contemporary musicians carry on his legacy. This playlist gathers some of his most iconic cuts and includes followers like jazz pianist Samuel Yirga and Boston's Either-Orchestra.