Inspiration Information 3

Mulatu Astatqe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Strut Records
• ASIN: B001RTYKHW
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,505 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The third in STRUT's Inspiration Information studio collaboration series brings together an intriguing pairing between one of Africa's greatest and most innovative bandleaders, MULATU ASTATKE, with the next level musicianship of THE HELIOCENTRICS collective from the mighty roster of STONES THROW / NOW AGAIN.Known primarily through the successful 'Ethiopiques' album series and the film soundtrack to JIM JARMUSCH's 'Broken Flowers', Mulatu Astatke is one of Ethiopia's foremost musical ambassadors. His selfstyled Ethio-jazz sound flourished during the "Swinging Addis" era of the late '60s as he successfully fused Western jazz and funk with traditional Ethiopian folk melodies. The Heliocentrics have become known as one of the UK's foremost free-thinking collectives of musicians, inspired by a wide palette covering SUN RA, JAMES BROWN, DAVID AXELROD and all manner of psych, Afro and Eastern sounds. The collective have featured on records by MADLIB and DJ SHADOW and are now a fixture within the Stones Throw / Now Again roster, they forged their own genre-breaking directions in the astral analogue groove on their 2007 debut album, 'Out There'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good and interesting; creates a certain vibe, September 14, 2009

By 

E. A. Morgan (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Inspiration Information 3 (Audio CD)

I heard about this album on NPR and bought it on impulse. I am really glad I did. This is a really interesting album that melds experimental, fusion and world music in a really interesting and yet accesible way. I love the horn work. The entire album creates this certain vibe that is cool and hip. Well worth the money for something different but not so out there that you can't relate. Perfect for someone expanding their listening horizons.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ethio-Jazz in the 21st Century - excellent!, January 29, 2010

By 

Andreas C G "Andreas Carl Georgi" (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Inspiration Information 3 (Audio CD)

This is easily one of the best new CD's I have heard, and will undoubtedly get a lot of play from me.

I had been looking forward to this one since I heard Mulatu Astatqe was recording a new album. I had high expectations and it does not disappoint! I found out about Mulatu through Ethiopiques Vol. 4, which features his recordings from the late 60's and early 70's, recorded in Ethiopia. I am not familiar with the Jim Jarmush film or the soundtrack, so I can't comment on those. I saw Mulatu live in Los Angeles in ealy 2009 with a band comprised of Bennie Maupin, Phil Rainey, Azar Lawrence, and other top LA jazz musicians, and the show was excellent.

I was not familiar previously with the Heliocentrics. I am assuming their name is inspired by Sun Ra. On this album Mulatu plays mostly piano, although he is also a very gifted vibes player. This CD is an update of the "Ethio-jazz" (his term) of the earlier recordings, melding it with newer funk, fusion and hip-hop rhythms and sounds.

There are many examples of Afro-Jazz which meld western elements with primarily West African elements. This stands out, in no small part, because it incorporates music from the Horn of Africa. The proximity to the Middle East and North Africa is quite evident in Ethiopian music, particularly in the vocal styles. Track one of the album includes vocals from an Ethiopian singer, and is one of the album's highlights (there are no "lowlights").

Although the Ethiopian elements do add a certain exoticism to the music, this is an album that should be easily enjoyed by any fans of funk, Afro-pop, or jazz fusion with an open mind.

Do check this one out, and spread the word!

Also, do check out the Ethiopiques series, which is available on Amazon:

Vol. 4 features Mulatu Astatqe's band from the 1970's. See my review! - Ethiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974

Vol. 1 features various artists and focuses on vocal popular music - Ethiopiques, Vol. 1: Golden Years Of Modern Ethiopian Music

Vol. 14 features saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya. A friend saw this guy in NYC last year and says he was awesome! Ethiopiques, Vol. 14: Negus of Ethiopian Sax

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy vinyl from Amazon!, August 21, 2009

By 

James Paul Harless (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Inspiration Information, Vol. 3 [Vinyl] (Vinyl)

This is an amazing album of Ethiopian jazz/funk. Mulatu Astatke is mostly known in the U.S. for his music used in the film "Broken Flowers."

However, I regret buying the vinyl version of this album from Amazon. Here's why: some, if not all, of Amazon's fulfillment centers do not have album shipping boxes. Instead, they throw them in a general-purpose box that is too large. Unless you like your album jackets dog-eared or bent, you'll do better by purchasing them from a dealer who knows how to ship vinyl.