Percussionist, composer, vocalist, and bandleader
Kahil El'Zabar is a force of nature. For nearly five decades he's led
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and
Ritual Trio. He was a member of the
Bright Moments collective with
Joseph Jarman,
Kalaparusha Maurice McIntrye, and
Steve Colson, and worked as a sideman with everyone from
Dizzy Gillespie and
Cannonball Adderley to
Eddie Harris and
Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
Spirit Groove features
El'Zabar in the company of saxophonist and longtime collaborator
David Murray, bassist
Emma Dayhuff, and pianist/keyboardist
Justin Dillard on synth, organ, and piano. This outing shines a light on the accessibility and vision of
El'Zabar's abundant creativity. Whether playing kalimba, drum kit, congas, shakers, vibes, or singing, he is in pursuit of the ancient universal groove, and its twin manifestations as spiritual and aesthetic entities in the contemporary world.