Mulatu Astatke - Afro-Latin Soul Volume 2Strut continue their work with the Godfather Of Ethio Jazz, Mulatu Astatke, with the rest of official reissues of his early classics Afro Latin Soul Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatkes life changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, the albums were the rest experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. I have always felt a deep

theåÊthoughtful politics of its lyrics are just as relevant today inåÊa world of drone strikes and Donald Trump

‰۝ a compilation featuring live recordings

' and 'Chapel Hill

contemporaries and those yet to arrive

where the seemingly nostalgic question Do You Remember the First Time

Next came the even-better sophomore album Solid Gravy

it‰۪s desert-dusted guitar raga appearing like a mirage as the rhythm section rises in the mix

it is a fascinating and successful blend of heavyweight Rastafarian roots rhythms and drumming alongside deep jazz improvisation and tripped out psychedelic fuzz guitar

features the background vocal talents of Rita Marley

deeper sound that 2011‰۪s Free All the Monsters revealed

even the ones he helped create

This is a hugely important album