10 Jun 2016

Mulatu Astatke, the man who created 'Ethio-jazz'

From Nine To Noon, 10:06 am on 10 June 2016
Mulatu Astatke with Kathryn Ryan

Mulatu Astatke with Kathryn Ryan Photo: Kirsten Johnstone

Mulatu Astatke is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and all around music pioneer discusses what it's like to create an entire musical genre.

From special guest appearances with Duke Ellington in the 1970s to performances at Glastonbury, a soundtrack for the Bill Murray movie Broken Flowers as well as  Damien Marley and Kanye West  samples, his influence continues to grow.

He's playing the Wellington Jazz Festival with the nine-piece Melbourne-based Black Jesus Experience tonight at the Opera House