Ethio-Jazz is a combination of traditional Ethiopian and more typical Western instruments. Mulatu Astatke, a legendary Ethiopian musician, was the leading pioneer of that. Ethio-Jazz is particularly interesting because it has a very raw and unique sound, especially if you compare it to well-known Jazz from the West. If you like a more rhythmic and funky type of Jazz, this fusion genre could be interesting to explore.

To get a great example of Ethio-Jazz, Mulatu of Ethiopia (1972) is an excellent choice. This album features great percussion, Mulatu’s signature vibraphone, psychedelic horns and funky guitars. The slightly slower song Kasalefkut-Hulu is particularly good as an introduction. The newsletter is dedicated to uncovering more of such unique gems, especially those that are particularly rare.