Pioneering vibraphone player, percussionist and composer Mulatu Astatke comes to the Royal Festival Hall for an evening of Ethiopian jazz fusion as part of Africa Utopia, a four day event celebrating African culture and art.
Known as the father of Ethio-jazz, Astatke has made a name for himself on both the jazz and world music scenes on account of his atmospheric compositions, steeped in the sound-world of East Africa but heavily influenced by western jazz and funk. Frequently sampled by hip-hop producers drawn to his distinctive sound, he won still greater recognition in 2005 when his compositions provided the soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers.
The Festival Hall appearance follows the release of his latest album, Sketches of Ethiopia, which features traditional instruments, including masinko (single-stringed lute) and the washint (bamboo flute), along with guest vocalists and British jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Byron Wallen. Its upbeat, percussion-heavy grooves and pentatonic riffs constitute some of Astatke's best writing yet, the perfect soundtrack to a celebration of the African continent and its culture.
| What | Mulatu Astatke, Royal Festival Hall |
| Where | Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Waterloo (underground) |
| When |
On 13 Sep 14, 7:30 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Price | £20-25 |
| Website | Click here to book via the Southbank Centre's website |