Ethio Jazz is a landmark album by contemporary Ethiopian music pioneer Mulatu Astatke from back in 1974 on Ethiopia’s Amha Records. It features melancholic wind melodies and a polyrhythmic rhythm section that soon draws you in while sultry vibraphone and smoky organ tones blend the essence of American jazz with Ethiopian musical traditions. This unique fusion creates a sound that remains a high point in Astatke’s career and the Ethio Jazz genre overall. It’s a faultless demonstration of Mulatu’s ambitious creativity and one that masterfully balances diverse musical elements. For that reason, this timeless album continues to resonate in the jazz world and beyond.

A delicious and fat chunky slab of vinyl from a Japanese pressing and it sounds very lush indeed.