Mulatu Steps Ahead

An influential star of the golden age of Ethiopian popular music, Mulatu Astatke was also the first African student at the famous Berklee College of Music, and went on to work with Duke Ellington in the 1970s. Here, in his latest recording, East Africa meets the US East Coast. Rather different from 2009's award-winning, more experimental date with UK's Heliocentrics, Steps Ahead was recorded mainly in Boston with members of the local Either/Orchestra – with additional contributions laid down in London and Addis Ababa. The nine tracks are a mix of Astatke originals new and old. ‘Radcliffe’, the album's opener, was composed for its eponymous institute during Astatke's spell as guest lecturer at Harvard and is a mesmerising Alice Coltrane-like soundscape that transports you to the parched Horn of Africa. ‘Boogaloo’, by way of complete contrast, is a deliciously indolent reworking of an old favourite, which conjures up visions of salsa singer Pete Rodriguez in pyjamas.

The mix of Western horns and African instruments like the trademark masenqo (one-string fiddle) and kora, the fusion of American and Ethiopian modes and scales, and the colourings created by bass clarinet, muted trumpet and Astatke's vibes all combine to create a richly evocative, rhythmic and melodic delight. Mulatu Astatke is the master of ‘Ethio Jazz’, but as a big(ish) band composer and arranger, he surely ranks alongside the likes of Oliver Nelson.