Mulatu Astatke Returns with First Major Studio Album in Over a Decade: Mulatu Plays Mulatu

The father of Ethio-jazz, legendary Ethiopian musician and arranger Mulatu Astatke, is set to release his first major studio album in more than ten years. Titled Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the highly anticipated project arrives September 26, 2025 via Strut Records and features newly reimagined arrangements of some of Mulatu’s most iconic compositions.

Alongside the announcement, Mulatu has shared the album’s vibrant lead single “Kulun”—a celebratory Ethiopian wedding song performed in the traditional anchi-hoye scale, now reborn with a lush big band arrangement.

Mulatu is one of Ethiopia’s most celebrated artists, credited with shaping the country’s modern musical identity during the “Swinging Addis” era of the late ’60s and early ’70s. In blending traditional Ethiopian melodies and rhythms with Western jazz arrangements, he pioneered the sound of Ethio-jazz, which has since influenced generations of musicians across the globe.

“Throughout my life, I wanted to bring Ethio-jazz to all corners of the world for people to enjoy, and I feel that I have succeeded in that,” says Mulatu. “Ethio-jazz brings us together and makes us one. This album is the culmination of my work bringing this music to the world and pays respect to our unsung heroes—the original musical scientists in Ethiopia who gave us our cultural music.”

The album offers freshly imagined performances of beloved tracks like “Yekermo Sew,” “Netsanet,” and “Kulun”, with expanded improvisations, rich textures, and rhythmic complexity that honor the originals while keeping the sound current.

Mulatu recorded Mulatu Plays Mulatu between London and Addis Ababa, joined by his long-standing UK band—a tight-knit ensemble refined over years of live performances—and regular appearances at the Jazz Village club in Addis. The sessions were produced by Dexter Story and feature guest performances by LA-based musicians Carlos Niño and Kibrom Birhane. Recording and mixing duties were split between Isabel Gracefield at London’s RAK Studios and Dexter Story in Addis.

The album’s striking cover art comes from Oslo-based Ethiopian artist Wendimagegn Belete, with photography by Alexis Maryon.

Tracklist – Mulatu Plays Mulatu

1. Zelesenga Dewel

2. Kulun

3. Netsanet

4. Yekermo Sew

5. Azmari

6. Chik Chikka

7. The Way To Nice

8. Motherland Intro

9. Motherland

10. Mulatu

11. Yekatit

To celebrate the album’s release, Mulatu Astatke will embark on a European tour this September, with additional shows in November.

• 7 Sept – Centrum Kultury Zamek, Poznań, Poland

• 8 Sept – Palladium, Warsaw, Poland

• 9 Sept – Huxley’s, Berlin, Germany

• 11 Sept – Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany

• 12 Sept – Konzerthaus, Dortmund, Germany

• 15 Sept – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

• 17 Sept – Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Netherlands

• 18 Sept – Annabel, Rotterdam, Netherlands

• 21 Sept – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium

• 23 Sept – Salle Pleyel, Paris, France

• 25 Sept – Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens, Greece

• 28 Sept – Città del Teatro, Cascina, Italy

• 5 Nov – Cosmopolite, Oslo, Norway

• 16 Nov – Royal Festival Hall, London, UK

• 17 Nov – HERE at Outernet, London, UK

Mulatu Plays Mulatu is more than a retrospective—it’s a living, breathing testament to the enduring power of Ethio-jazz. Mulatu bridges continents, generations, and traditions with a sound that continues to evolve, proving that his music is as relevant and inspiring today as it was five decades ago.