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The summer months always seem to prompt exploration. A time to catch up on reading, or spend six weeks becoming the sort of person who suddenly owns linen. Unsurprisingly, Serviette has taken full advantage of the season, going on several curiosity-driven deep dives—one such investigation has yielded particularly promising results for this year’s summer playlist. A Serviette first!
A mere year ago, the “Godfather of Ethiopian Jazz” took to the stage for his final live performance. Armed with two pink-felted mallets, he ambled up to his vibraphone—his signature instrument, and one he would single-handedly introduce to the Ethio-jazz movement—and enchanted audiences one last time with his spellbinding blend of jazz, Latin, and traditional Ethiopian music.
Mulatu Astatke was born in Jimma, Ethiopia, but it wasn’t long before he established himself as a key player in the London, New York, and Boston jazz scenes. Though his family initially sent him to Wales to study engineering, Astatke soon decided to pursue music instead, earning a degree at London’s prestigious Trinity College of Music. He then moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music—becoming the first African to do so—where he fell in love with percussion and the vibraphone.
To those less acquainted, the vibraphone is a percussive instrument comprised of a series of tuned metal bars; when struck, they produce a uniquely crystalline, resonant sound. Experienced performers can play the instrument with up to four mallets, two in each hand. (Side note: those who play the vibraphone are called, among other things, vibists, which Serviette maintains is reason enough to learn the instrument.)
Astatke returned to Ethiopia after completing his studies, where he perfected his signature sound and forever altered the musical landscape of his home country. Though he was initially met with resistance, it wasn’t long before Ethio-jazz spread, furthering Astatke’s mission to broaden the range of Ethiopia’s traditional instruments. While many musicians left the country in 1974 following the deposition of Ethiopia’s Emperor, Mulatu stayed behind, honing his craft and cementing his legacy as one of jazz’s great innovators.
An artful combination of conga drums and full-bodied horns. A whiff of tart ume liqueur carried on a breeze of soft florals. Sometimes the most arresting combinations are the ones that take you by surprise.
And now, a parting gift from Serviette—a mini playlist to welcome the start of summer, Astatke included. Might we suggest smelling through your Serviette discovery set as you listen, pairing each track with a different fragrance for an experience that truly delights the senses. Listen here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. We wish you good sounds, and, of course, even better smells ahead.