Kahil El'Zabar
Internationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true Renaissance Man, with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words, The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity.
Even though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community, he has taken his studies deeper, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. I grew up in a period when African Americans, as a large body, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument. El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments, from the elementary - congas, bongos, African drums, shekere, gongs, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon, marimba, sanza, kalimba and berimbau.
Music holds no boundaries for El'Zabar, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit, JUBA Collective.
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Live Review
Album Review
- Follow the Sun by Alberto Bazzurro
- Follow The Sun by Hrayr Attarian
- What It Is! by Troy Collins
- Mama's House Live by Mark Corroto
- Ooh Live! by Jeff Stockton
- Ooh Live! by John Barron
- Transmigration by Jerry D'Souza
- Transmigration by John Barron
- Transmigration by Nic Jones
March 06, 2011
Kahil El'zabar's Ethnics Featuring Nona Hendryx "It's Time"
August 31, 2010
Chicago Jazz Fest After Party - Underground Fest
March 02, 2010
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in Concert: Chicago Jazz Legends at the Erie...
September 26, 2009
Robbie's Schedules "Rapology" with Troupe, Bell and Burrage, Plus Shows...
May 27, 2008
Kahil El'zabar's Ritual Trio Featuring Pharoah Sanders - Ooh Live...
November 09, 2006
Kahil El'Zabar / Billy Bang / SLF @ The Five Spot Friday, November 10
October 30, 2006
Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio featuring Billy Bang and Sonic Liberation...
June 06, 2006
Deeper Soul Recordings Presents Kahil El'Zabar Remix 2CD
March 16, 2006
Kahil El'Zabar Interviewed, Barry Harris Profiled, at AAJ Today
February 02, 2006
Vandermark 5 + Leroy Jenkins/Myra Melford/Kahil El'Zabar at The Cinema...
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