Mulatu Astatke: The father of Ethio Jazz brings his hypnotic rhythms to Athens as part of his final world tour

Global music icon Mulatu Astatke arrives in Athens, blending tradition and innovation one final time.

For more than half a century, Mulatu Astatke has been rewriting the soundtrack of global jazz. On September 25, the pioneer of Ethio Jazz takes over Theatro Vrachon Melina Mercouri in Athens, offering audiences a rare chance to witness his signature blend of traditional Ethiopian instruments, lush big-band arrangements, and magnetic improvisation. As part of his farewell world tour, this performance feels less like a goodbye and more like a celebration of a legacy.

Mulatu Astatke – composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist – is celebrated as the father of Ethio Jazz, a groundbreaking genre that fuses traditional Ethiopian sounds with Latin rhythms, funk grooves, and American jazz influences. He revolutionized Ethiopia’s musical landscape during the “Swinging Addis” era of the late 1960s and 1970s, collaborating with iconic artists such as Mahmoud Ahmed, Getatchew Mekurya, and Tilahun Gessesse.

Defying the conservative norms of the time, Mulatu introduced bold innovations: integrating the vibraphone, electric keyboards, congas, and bongos into Ethiopian music, while reimagining traditional instruments like the krar (lyre), masenqo (single-string fiddle), and washint (flute) in entirely new ways. The result was an unmistakable sound, earthy yet cosmopolitan, that continues to influence global music today.

By the mid-2010s, Mulatu had brought Ethio Jazz to every major continent through extensive tours, forging collaborations with the Black Jesus Experience on the album Cradle of Humanity, guest-starring on Nubiyan Twist’s Freedom Fables, and recording with the Hoodna Orchestra in 2024.

Last year marked another milestone: a summer U.S. tour culminating in a performance at the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, co-curated by Kamasi Washington, alongside major concerts in San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C..

In 2025, Mulatu embarks on an international farewell tour, coinciding with the release of his new studio album, “Mulatu Plays Mulatu” (Strut Records). Recorded at RAK Studios in London and his Jazz Village Club in Addis Ababa, the album features his full big band alongside traditional Ethiopian musicians – a fitting coda to a remarkable six-decade career.

“All my life, I wanted to bring Ethio Jazz to every corner of the world for people to enjoy — and I feel like I’ve done just that,” says Mulatu Astatke.