Ethiopia's Mulatu Astatke: The godfather of Ethio-jazz plays his farewell tour

Mulatu Astatke has been blending jazz influences from home and abroad for the past six decades.

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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.