Mulatu Astatke is one of the most influential and important musicians from Ethiopia. He has forged a new music from Ethiopian and jazz influences. His music veers from the sublime tezetas to the most foot stomping funk. He is a central figure in African Music in the way that Fela Kuti is. Mulatu’s influence, his tone and sensibility can be heard in much of todays music. More recently his work informed Jim Jarmusch’s independent smash Broken Flowers with actor Bill Murray.
http://www.myspace.com/mulatuastatke