Jazz Articles about Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Spirit Gatherer

by Chris May
April 7, 2023

Anyone who was chair of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians for a decade knows a thing or two about keeping a group of independently minded artists focused on a common goal. Drummer and percussionist Kahil El'Zabar continues to demonstrate that with his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, an acoustic, improvising trio with an African foundation that has been recording since 1981. Most of the musicians who have passed through the group have been longtime members. The 2023 lineup comprises ...

Hot 'n' Heavy: Live At The Ascension Loft

by Nic Jones
August 16, 2007

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Hot 'n' Heavy: Live at the Ascension Loft Delmark Records 2007

The spirit of the loft is alive and well and more than safe in the hands of Mr. Kahil El' Zabar and his cohorts, and he reveals as much in the commentary track on this DVD. This line-up of his aptly named Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is supremely well-equipped to deliver a program of his deep music, deep in the sense ...

Hot 'n' Heavy: Live at the Ascension Loft

by Jim Santella
July 19, 2007

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Hot 'n' Heavy: Live at the Ascension Loft Delmark Records 2007

The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble delivers pure jazz with spirit. In this live concert, they interpret five of Kahil El'Zabar's compositions with an emphasis on the teamwork that exists between two horns, Fareed Haque's guitar, and El'Zabar's large hand drums. From their collaboration, you can feel the spirit moving through the room as a selected audience looks on. Band ...

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Hot 'N' Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft

by Mark F. Turner
May 11, 2007

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Hot 'N' Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft Delmark 2006 Delmark Records continues to produce some memorable jazz DVDs and Ethnic Heritage Ensemble's Hot'N'Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft is no exception. From the first few sounds and frames of the video, one dynamic image absorbs the viewer: the group's leader, percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, has more energy in his fingertips than most of us have in our entire bodies.

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Hot 'N' Heavy: Live At The Ascension Loft

by Mark Corroto
April 7, 2007

For more than thirty years, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble has carried the American tradition of percussive jazz onward from a distinctly African-Chicago-American perspective. This live session, recorded in percussionist Kahil El'Zabar's loft, continues the long line of stellar recordings, but with a new and seemingly ever changing lineup.

The EHE has included, among others, saxophonists Edward Wilkerson, Jr., Light Henry Huff and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, trombonist Joseph Bowie and percussionist Harold Atu Murray. Besides El'Zabar's Ritual Trio, it ...

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Hot 'N' Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft

by Mark Corroto
April 5, 2007

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Hot 'N' Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft Delmark 2006

For more than thirty years, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble has carried on the African-American tradition of percussive jazz from a distinctly Midwest-Chicago perspective. This live session, recorded in percussionist Kahil El'Zabar's loft, continues their long line of stellar recordings, but with a new and seemingly ever-changing lineup.

The EHE has included, among others, Edward Wilkerson, Jr., Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Joseph ...

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Hot 'N' Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft

by Jerry D'Souza
March 26, 2007

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Hot 'N' Heavy--Live at the Ascension Loft Delmark 2006

The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble has been a potent force in music and in particular on the constantly fermenting Chicago scene. The Ensemble revolves around leader Kahil El'Zabar, an articulate man who composes with an eye on the open horizon. Over the years the Ensemble has had some of the foremost improvisers in its fold, including Henry Huff, Joseph Bowie and ...