Mulatu Astatke
Afro Latin Soul Vols 1 & 2

The master vibesman, drummer and pianist Mulatu Astatke recorded ‘Afro-Latin Soul’ whilst living in New York in 1966. Whilst there is an Ethiopian infusion, the music warrants close comparison with US based Latin music of the era. From the urgent funky Soul groove of ‘Soul Power’ to the Boogaloo of ‘Shagu’, the album is a percussive delight. The fast-paced Mambo ‘I Faram Gami I Faram’ sung in Spanish is an all-too short. ‘Girl from Addis Ababa’ is a killer cool Latin Jazz jam. ‘Raina’ slows the tempo toward mid. Quality Afro-Latin.