Afro-Latin Soul
The two New York LPs of 1966 where Mulatu first set out to make an Ethiopian jazz.
Mulatu Astatke, 1966
- Released
- 1966
- Label
- Worthy
- Type
- album
Mulatu recorded Afro-Latin Soul, Volumes 1 and 2, in New York City in 1966. The records feature his vibraphone, with piano and congas playing Latin rhythms. They are instrumental throughout except for I Faram Gami I Faram, which is sung in Spanish. Gil Snapper wrote the liner notes, and Snapper, Rudy Houston and Oscar Garcia wrote several of the other tunes.
Volume 2, credited to the Ethiopian Quintet, includes Girl From Addis Ababa, written by Mulatu, and Lover's Mambo, which he arranged. Strut combined the two volumes in a 2018 reissue.
Track listing
- I Faram Gami I Faram2:25
- Mascaram Setaba1:47
- Shagu3:00
- One For Buzayhew3:25
- Alone In The Crowd4:00
- Almaz2:50
- Mulatu's Hideaway2:40
- Askum2:04
- A Kiss Before Dawn3:15
- Playboy Cha Cha3:50
Personnel
- Mulatu Astatke vibraphone, piano, drums
- Rudy Houston piano, trumpet
- Robert Cuadrado bass
- Felix Torres congas, bongos
- John Perez congas, bongos
- Tony Pearson timbales
- Luis Rodriguez vocals
More from Mulatu Astatke
Ethiopian Modern Instrumentals Hits (1972), Mulatu of Ethiopia (1972), Yekatit Ethio Jazz (1974), Éthiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974 (1998), New York-Addis-London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975 (2009), Mulatu Steps Ahead (2010), Sketches of Ethiopia (2013)
Sources
- Afro-Latin Soul, Discogs
- Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 2, Discogs
- Afro-Latin Soul Vols 1 & 2, Discogs
- Mulatu Astatke, Wikipedia
- Mulatu Astatke: New York-Addis-London, Pitchfork (2009-12-07)