Mulatu Astatke is taking his final bow after more than five decades as a pioneering force at the intersection of jazz, African music and fusion. The vibraphone virtuoso is widely regarded as the creator of Ethio-Jazz – a genre-defining blend of traditional Ethiopian music and Western jazz. On 9 September 2025, he will perform at Gretchen in Berlin – very likely for the last time.
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Soundtrack to a musical legacy
In the 1960s and ’70s, Mulatu Astatke reshaped the jazz landscape as Ethiopia’s unofficial musical ambassador. With driving grooves and iconic brass arrangements, he has stood behind the vibraphone for over 60 years, sharing his Ethio-Jazz vision across the globe. His music reached wider audiences with the track »Yekermo Sew« featured on the soundtrack to Broken Flowers. Today, his influence is firmly rooted in hip-hop and electronic music – sampled and reimagined by the likes of Madlib, Four Tet, DJ Khalab and Kanye West. As part of his farewell tour, Astatke will also present his forthcoming album Mulatu Plays Mulatu.
