Kahil El'Zabar

Last updated
Kahil El'Zabar
Kahil El'Zabar.jpg
Background information
Born (1953-11-11) November 11, 1953 (age 71)
Chicago, Illinois
Genres Bebop
Afro-Cuban jazz
Free jazz
Instrument(s) Percussion, drums

Kahil El'Zabar (born Clifton Blackburn; November 11, 1953) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist (mainly a percussionist) and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records. [1]

Contents

Life and work

El'Zabar was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Lake Forest College and joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in the early 1970s, and became its chairman in 1975. [2] 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 Cannonball Adderley, Billy Bang, Dizzy Gillespie, David Murray, Pharoah Sanders, Paul Simon, Nina Simone, and Stevie Wonder.

In 2017 the film Be Known - The Mystery of Kahil El Zabar by filmmaker Dwayne Johnson-Cochran was released. The documentary follows El' Zabar and band on their 2007 Black History Month tour. The film has been available on Amazon Prime.

Discography (partial)

As leader/co-leader

With Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

With Ritual Trio

With Tri-Factor

With Kahil El'Zabar Quartet

As sideman

With David Murray

With Wadada Leo Smith

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Bowie</span> American jazz trumpeter and composer (1941–1999)

Lester Bowie was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Bang</span> American jazz violinist and composer (1947–2011)

Billy Bang, born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.

Fred Hopkins was an American double bassist who played a major role in the development of the avant-garde jazz movement. He was best known for his association with the trio Air with Henry Threadgill and Steve McCall, and for his numerous performances and extensive recordings with major jazz musicians such as Muhal Richard Abrams, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake, and David Murray. He was a member of the AACM, and a frequent participant in the loft jazz scene of the 1970s. He also co-led a number of albums with the composer and cellist Diedre Murray. Gary Giddins wrote that Hopkins' playing "fused audacious power with mercuric reflexes." Howard Reich, writing in the Chicago Tribune, stated that "many connoisseurs considered [Hopkins] the most accomplished jazz bassist of his generation" and praised him for "the extraordinarily fluid technique, sumptuous tone and innovative methods he brought to his instrument."

Wilber Morris was an American jazz double bass player and bandleader. He was the brother of the cornetist, composer, and conductor Butch Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malachi Favors</span> American jazz bassist

Malachi Favors was an American jazz bassist who played with the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre was an American free jazz tenor saxophonist.

Ari Brown is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and pianist.

Norris Jones, better known as Sirone was an American jazz bassist, trombonist, and composer.

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is an American jazz ensemble founded in 1973 by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar. Its members have included Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Defunkt's Joseph Bowie, post-bop musician Ernest Dawkins, Light Henry Huff, 8 Bold Souls' Edward Wilkerson, Hanah Jon Taylor, and 'Atu' Harold Murray.

<i>Renaissance of the Resistance</i> 1994 studio album by Kahil ElZabar

Renaissance of the Resistance is an album by American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar and his Ritual Trio, which also includes saxophonist Ari Brown and bassist Malachi Favors. It was recorded in 1993 and released on Delmark.

<i>The Continuum</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

The Continuum is an album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, a jazz band formed by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, who is joined by trombonist Joseph Bowie and two new members: saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, who replaces Ed Wilkerson, and percussionist 'Atu' Harold Murray. It was recorded in 1997 and released on Delmark.

<i>21st Century Union March</i> 1997 studio album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

21st Century Union March is an album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, a jazz band formed by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, who is joined by saxophonist Edward Wilkerson and trombonist Joseph Bowie. It was recorded in 1995 and released on the Swedish Silkheart label.

<i>Jitterbug Junction</i> 1997 studio album by Kahil ElZabar

Jitterbug Junction is an album by American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio, which also includes saxophonist Ari Brown and bassist Malachi Favors. It was recorded in 1997 and released on CIMP.

<i>Big Cliff</i> 1995 live album by Kahil ElZabar

Big Cliff is an album by American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar and his Ritual Trio, which also includes saxophonist Ari Brown and bassist Malachi Favors, and the guest appearance of violinist Billy Bang. It was recorded live in 1994 at the Chicago Undergroung Fest and released on Delmark.

Reginald "Reggie" Nicholson is an American jazz drummer.

<i>Conversations</i> (Archie Shepp and Kahil ElZabar album) 1999 studio album by Archie Shepp with Kahil ElZabars Ritual Trio

Conversations is an album by saxophonist Archie Shepp with Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio, which also includes Ari Brown and Malachi Favors, which was recorded in 1999 and released on the Delmark label.

<i>Africa NDa Blues</i> 2000 studio album by Kahil ElZabars Ritual Trio featuring Pharoah Sanders

Africa N'Da Blues is an album by Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio featuring saxophonist Pharoah Sanders that was recorded in 1999 and released on the Delmark label.

<i>Live at the River East Art Center</i> 2005 live album by Kahil ElZabars Ritual Trio with special guest Billy Bang

Live at the River East Art Center is a live album by Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio, with special guest violinist Billy Bang, that was recorded in Chicago in 2004 and released on the Delmark label.

<i>Big M: A Tribute to Malachi Favors</i> 2006 live album by Kahil ElZabars Ritual Trio featuring Billy Bang

Big M: A Tribute to Malachi Favors is an album by Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio, featuring violinist Billy Bang, that was recorded in Chicago in late 2004 and released on the Delmark label.

<i>Spirits Entering</i> 2001 studio album by Kahil ElZabar and Billy Bang

Spirits Entering is an album by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar and violinist Billy Bang. It was recorded during May 1998 at Riverside Studio in Chicago, and was released in 2001 by Delmark Records.

References

  1. Kahil El'Zabar at AllMusic
  2. "Biography". Official Site of Kahil EL'Zabar. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  3. "Be Known Ancient/Future/Music". Bandcamp. June 21, 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  4. "A Time For Healing". Bandcamp. February 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-20.