What It Is! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 2013 | |||
Recorded | September 28–30, 2012 | |||
Studio | Riverside Studio, Chicago | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 54:49 | |||
Label | Delmark | |||
Producer | Kahil El'Zabar & Steve Wagner | |||
Kahil El'Zabar chronology | ||||
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What It Is! is an album by American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, which was recorded in 2012 and released on Delmark. It was the debut of a quartet comprising three young players from the school of Chicago's AACM: tenor saxophonist Kevin Nabors, pianist Justin Dillard and bassist Junius Paul. The album includes five originals and two jazz standards by John Coltrane: "Impressions" and "Central Park West". [1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Down Beat | [2] |
The Down Beat review by John Murph states "Kahil El’Zabar moves toward the center this time around and releases one of his most accessible discs yet. The adventurous drummer and bandleader steers an impressive quartet, composed of some of the newer generations of the AACM, and emphasizes blues, swing and groove." [2]
The All About Jazz review by Troy Collins says "Whether navigating funky R&B, modal post-bop or expressionistic abstraction, El'Zabar's young sidemen invest their efforts with palpable conviction, imparting even textbook extrapolations with heartfelt urgency." [3]
In his review for JazzTimes David Whiteis states "As Howard Mandel’s liner notes assure us, this music is 'neither avant-garde nor old guard.' It’s unselfconsciously both contemporary and roots-rich, and it resonates with the joy of invention." [4]
The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1965 in Chicago by pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, pianist Jodie Christian, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran. The AACM is devoted "to nurturing, performing, and recording serious, original music," according to its charter. It supports and encourages jazz performers, composers and educators. Although founded in the jazz tradition, the group's outreach and influence has, according to Larry Blumenfeld, "touched nearly all corners of modern music."
Kahil El'Zabar is a jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records. 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. 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, Paul Simon, Pharoah Sanders, and Billy Bang. 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.
A Sanctuary Within is an album by David Murray released on the Italian Black Saint label. in 1992. It features performances by Murray, Sunny Murray, Kahil El'Zabar and Tony Overwater.
Jug-A-Lug is an album by David Murray released on the Japanese DIW label. Recorded in 1994 and released in 1995 the album features performances by Murray with Olu Dara, Robert Irving III, Bobby Broom, Daryl Thompson, Darryl Jones, Toby Williams and Kahil El'Zabar.
David Murray appears on hundreds of recordings as a leader and performer. This discography covers albums released under his name, by groups he was/is a member of and other albums he has contributed to. Dates are of recording, not release.
Live in Chicago is a 1999 live album by jazz vocalist Kurt Elling. It was Elling's first live album, recorded over two nights in 1999 at Chicago's Green Mill jazz club. As musical guest appears jazz singer Jon Hendricks on two tracks, "Don't Get Scared" and "Goin' to Chicago", which Hendricks announces himself. Three tenor saxophonists, Von Freeman, Ed Petersen and Eddie Johnson, at once Elling invites on the stage for "The Rent Party", introducing the musicians over five minutes by improvising descriptions of their sound and personality with each one respectively responding to his words. On two further tracks percussionist Kahil El'Zabar is featured.
Tomeka Reid is an American composer, improviser, cellist, curator, and teacher.
Black Unstoppable is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell, which was recorded in 2007 and released on Delmark. It was the fourth album by her Black Earth Ensemble and the first for Delmark after three recordings on Dreamtime, the label she established with David Boykin. According to Mitchell, this project features a diverse collection of songs that touch all sides of Great Black Music: avant-garde jazz, blues, R&B and soul. The group ranges in size from a quartet to a nonet.
Procession of the Great Ancestry is an album by American jazz trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith which was recorded in 1983, first released in 1989 on the English Chief label licensed by Nessa Records and reissued in 2009 on Nessa.
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.
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.
Freedom Jazz Dance is an album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, a jazz band formed by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, who is joined by trombonist Joseph Bowie, saxophonist Ernest Dawkins and special guest guitarist Fareed Haque. It was recorded in 1999 and released on Delmark.
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.
Follow the Sun is an album by American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, which was recorded in 2013 and released on Delmark. He leads his Ritual Trio with saxophonist Ari Brown and bassist Junius Paul, augmented by special guests vocalist Dwight Trible and Duke Payne on second tenor sax and bagpipes.
Love Outside of Dreams is an album by the American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, recorded in 1997 and released on Delmark. He leads a trio featuring saxophonist David Murray and bassist Fred Hopkins in his last recording session. Murray and El'Zabar cut the duo album Golden Sea in 1989 and Kahil joined David's groups for A Sanctuary Within, The Tip and Jug-A-Lug in the early '90s.
We Is is an album by American jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar and saxophonist David Murray, which was recorded live in 2000 at the Bop Shop record store in Rochester and released on Delmark.
The Prairie Prophet is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble, which was recorded in 2010 and released on Delmark. The album pays tribute to saxophonist Fred Anderson. "Mal-Lester" is an homage to Art Ensemble of Chicago members Malachi Favors and Lester Bowie.
Donald Rafael Garrett was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played double-bass, clarinet, and flute.
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.
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.