Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astatke smiled as he held his arms aloft to acknowledge his audience.
Last month in London, the 82-year-old pioneer, who has done much to bring his blend of musical styles to the world, played a concert as part of a farewell tour after a six-decade performing career.
Twenty years ago, he gained a wider listenership after the soundtrack for the 2005 Hollywood film Broken Flowers included his music, and the use of one of his recordings in last year’s best-picture-Oscar-nominated Nickel Boys saw further interest.
But since the 1960s he has used the studio and rehearsal room as a laboratory where he has mixed musical styles to create what he calls the “science” of Ethio-jazz.
Outside, it was a cold November evening, but inside the West End venue, Mulatu was bathed in the warm embrace of a crowd eager to get one last glimpse of this alchemist at work.
Dressed in a shirt featuring work by Ethiopian artist Afework Tekle, he slowly and steadily walked on stage.
Squeezing past a set of congas he came to his signature instrument – the vibraphone.
With two pink-felted mallets in his right hand and one in the left, he began to pick out the mesmeric rhythm and melody, expertly striking the xylophone-like metal bars creating a delicate, resonant sound.
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