Kahil El'Zabar
Encyclopedia
Kahil EL'Zabar is a jazz
multi-instrumentalist
(mainly a percussionist
) and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records
. He joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
(AACM) in the early 1970s, and became its chairman in 1975. During the 1970s, he formed the musical groups Ritual Trio and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
, both of which remain active. Musicians with whom Kahil EL'Zabar has collaborated include Dizzy Gillespie
, Stevie Wonder
, Nina Simone
, Cannonball Adderley, and Paul Simon
.
With Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
(mainly a percussionist
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
) and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records
Delmark Records
Delmark Records is an independent American jazz and blues record label, based in Chicago since 1958. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when owner Bob Koester released a recording of the Windy City Six, a traditional jazz group, under the "Delmar" imprint.-History:Born in 1932 in...
. He joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians is a non-profit organization, founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States, by pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams, pianist Jodie Christian, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran....
(AACM) in the early 1970s, and became its chairman in 1975. During the 1970s, he formed the musical groups Ritual Trio and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is an American jazz ensemble with several notable members, including Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Kahil El'Zabar, Joseph Bowie, Ernest Dawkins, Light Henry Huff and Edward Wilkerson....
, both of which remain active. Musicians with whom Kahil EL'Zabar has collaborated include Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, Cannonball Adderley, and Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
.
As leader
- 1986 - Another Kind of Groove (sound aspects) with Billy Bang, Malachi Favors
- 1990 - Hang Tuff (Open Minds) with Joseph BowieJoseph BowieJoseph Bowie is an American bandleader, trombonist, and founder of the seminal jazz fusion band, Defunkt. The group has been blending jazz with funk and punk music for more than three consecutive decades....
, Edward WilkersonEdward WilkersonEdward L. Wilkerson, Jr., , is an internationally recognized American jazz composer, arranger, musician, and educator based in Chicago... - 1991 - Dance with the Ancestors (Chamaeleon)
- 1994 - Big Cliff (Delmark) with Billy BangBilly BangBilly Bang was an American free jazz violinist and composer.-Biography:...
, Malachi Favors - 1995 - 21st Century Union March (Silkheart) with Joseph Bowie, Edward Wilkerson
- 1997 - Jitterbug Junction (CIMP) with Ari BrownAri BrownAri Brown is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and pianist.Brown grew up in Chicago and attended Wilson College, where he met musicians such as Jack DeJohnette, Henry Threadgill, Roscoe Mitchell, and Joseph Jarman. He played piano in R&B and soul outfits int the 1960s, then switched to saxophone...
, Malachi Favors - 1998 - Paps's Bounce (CIMP) with Joseph Bowie, Ernest DawkinsErnest DawkinsErnest Dawkins is an American jazz saxophonist, principally active in free jazz and post-bop.Ernest Khabeer Dawkins was a neighbor of Anthony Braxton as a child. He played bass and drums early in life before switching to saxophone in 1973...
, Atu Harold Murray - 1999 - Freedom Jazz Dance (Delmark) with Fareed HaqueFareed HaqueFareed Haque is a fusion guitar virtuoso of Pakistani and Chilean descent.Raised in Chicago, he studied at North Texas State University and Northwestern University....
- 1999 - The Power (CIMP) mit Hamiet BluiettHamiet BluiettHamiet Bluiett is an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument is the baritone saxophone, and he is considered one of the finest living players of this instrument...
- 1999 - Conversations (Delmark DE-514) with Archie SheppArchie SheppArchie Shepp is a prominent African-American jazz saxophonist. Shepp is best known for his passionately Afrocentric music of the late 1960s, which focused on highlighting the injustices faced by the African-Americans, as well as for his work with the New York Contemporary Five, Horace Parlan, and...
, Ari BrownAri BrownAri Brown is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and pianist.Brown grew up in Chicago and attended Wilson College, where he met musicians such as Jack DeJohnette, Henry Threadgill, Roscoe Mitchell, and Joseph Jarman. He played piano in R&B and soul outfits int the 1960s, then switched to saxophone...
, Malachi FavorsMalachi FavorsMalachi Favors was a noted American jazz bassist best known for his work with the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:...
(Recorded at Riverside Studio, Chicago on January 23 & 24, 1999) - 2000 - Africa N'Da Blues (Delmark DE-519) with Archie SheppArchie SheppArchie Shepp is a prominent African-American jazz saxophonist. Shepp is best known for his passionately Afrocentric music of the late 1960s, which focused on highlighting the injustices faced by the African-Americans, as well as for his work with the New York Contemporary Five, Horace Parlan, and...
, Ari Brown, Malachi Favors, Pharoah SandersPharoah SandersPharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
(Recorded on dec.1999) - 2000 - One World Family (CIMP 220) with David MurrayDavid Murray (jazz musician)David Murray is an American jazz musician. Murray plays mainly tenor saxophone and sometimes bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.-Biography:...
(Recorded 28,29 March 2000 at The Spirit Room, Rossie, NY.) - 2001 - Spirits Entering (Delmark DE-533) with Billy BangBilly BangBilly Bang was an American free jazz violinist and composer.-Biography:...
(Recorded in nov. 1998 @ Chicago)
As sideman
With Ritual Trio- 1985 - The Ritual (Sound Aspects SAS 011)
- 1985 - Sacred Love (Sound Aspects SAS 021)
- 1994 - Renaissance Of The Resistance (Delmark DE-466)
- 2008 - Ooh Live (Katalyst)
With Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is an American jazz ensemble with several notable members, including Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Kahil El'Zabar, Joseph Bowie, Ernest Dawkins, Light Henry Huff and Edward Wilkerson....
- Three Gentlemen From Chicago (Moers Music, 1981)
- The Continuum (Delmark DE-496, 1997)