Mulatu Astatke

Mulatu Astatke is an Ethiopian musician and arranger recognized as the creator of Ethio-jazz, influencing music globally. After recording his groundbreaking debut albums ‘Afro-Latin Soul, Volumes 1 & 2’ in New York City in 1966, Mulatu Astatke emerged as a pioneering Ethiopian musician and arranger, globally recognized as the creator of Ethio-jazz. His foundational musical training included studies at Lindisfarne College in Wales in the late 1950s, followed by earning a degree from the Trinity College of Music in London in the 1960s. He then pursued advanced studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, specializing in vibraphone and percussion.

3′ in 2008. He also performed at the Luckman Auditorium in Los Angeles in 2009. In 2008, Astatke completed a Radcliffe Institute Fellowship at Harvard, premiering a portion of ‘The Yared Opera,’ and served as an Abramowitz Artist-in-Residence at MIT, advising on modernizing instruments. He received an honorary doctorate of music from the Berklee College of Music in 2012.

His collaboration with Black Jesus Experience for the album ‘Cradle of Humanity’ premiered at the Melbourne Jazz Festival in 2016. Mulatu Astatke’s enduring influence continues; his composition ‘Tezeta’ featured in the 2024 film ‘Nickel Boys.’ As of 2025, he maintains an active international touring schedule across Europe, with confirmed performances in Poland, Rome, and Vienna.