Upcoming Delmark Show Highlights

Fri, Sat Sept 15, 16:
Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble The Messenger, Live at the Original Velvet Lounge (DE 570, DVD 1570)
CD/DVD release party this weekend! September 15, 16 (9pm-1am Fri, 8pm-midnight Sat) at Chicago's legendary Green Mill (est. 1907!) 4802 N. Broadway (Lawrence & Broadway in Uptown) 773-878-5552

Kahil El' Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Orchestra Infinity, and Ritual Trio will be collaborating with Bordeaux, France jazz musicians in upcoming performances at the 8th Annual Chicago World Music Fest on September 20, 21, 22! Just announced!: Baritone sax legend Hamiett Bluiett will be a special guest performer with Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Orchestra Infinity.

Delmark Records' most prolific recording artist and renaissance man, percussionist Kahil El'Zabar has some exciting and very interesting upcoming shows during the celebrated Chicago World Music Fest, including a highly anticipated show co-billing with Rob Mazurek's Sao Paulo Underground at MCA. Delmark recently had the pleasure of recording/videotaping Kahil's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (at his Ascension Loft), and Rob Mazurek's Chicago Underground Trio (at DankHaus) for future Delmark DVD/CDs!

Wednesday September 20th
Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Michigan Ave) 7:30 pm $12 312-397-4010 www.mcachicago.org

SOUL N ONE & SAO PAULO UNDERGOUND

Soul N One is a collaboration of Kahil El Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (voc, percussion, composition), Ernest Dawkins (reeds), Corey Wilkes (trumpet), and special guest Hamiett Bluiett ( bad ass Baritone sax) along with Bordeaux, France's finest young jazz musicians.

Chicago meets Bordeaux in this cross-cultural collaboration, which was launched by Musiques de Nuit, a community oriented organization that brings artists from all over the world to its city for concerts, workshops, residencies and other outreach programming. Chicagoans feature the world-renowned Ethnic Heritage Ensemble's Corey Wilkes (trumpet/percussion), Ernest Dawkins (reeds/percussion) and Kahil El'Zabar (multi-percussion/voice/composition). Bordeaux members features the Infinity Project's Boudjimal's Basse (percussion), Stephane Castanet (DJ), Jean Dousteyssier (clarinet), Bindi Mahamat (rap), Yoann Sheidt (drums), Natalie Gaucher (voice) and Arnaud Rouanet (tenor sax). An intimate exploration of ancient to future music, from two distinct cities, Chicago and Bordeaux's Soul N one goes from ethnic stew to funk to avant-garde to swing and beyond.

Rob Mazurek's Sao Paulo Underground

Spawned from the pink sulfur skies of Sao Paulo, Brazil, this project is the combined work of artists Rob Mazurek (Isotope 217, Chicago Underground, Exploding Star Orchestra) on cornet/electronics and Mauricio Takara (Hurtmold, M. Takara) on percussion/electronics.

Thursday September 21st
6 pm , Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavillion FREE!
To close out the World Music Fest!

Orchestra Infinity

Conducted by the award-winning musician and composer Kahil El'Zabar, Orchestra Infinity challenges the traditional performance models of big band and symphonic music while embracing an entirely new adventure in organized ensemble playing. Orchestra Infinity will be joined for this performance by 10 French musicians of various cultures from the Bordeaux region of France, 20 jazz all-stars from Chicago, and 20 students from the Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago.

The new orchestral composition, “Nu Art Claiming Earth," has its US premiere at 6 PM. Tonight, 10 French musicians from Bordeaux, 20 Chicago jazz artists, and 20 Chicago public school and college students join Orchestra Infinity to perform this Basque, West African, West Indian, North African, and Afro-American-influenced work.

Friday , September 22nd
Alliance Francaise de Chicago (810 N. Dearborn) 7:30 pm 312-337-1070 www.afchicago.com Alliance Francaise members $15, non members $20, $23 door Music and Wine Reception

Kahil's Ritual Trio with Ari Brown (reeds) and Yosef Ben Israel (bass) with Bordeaux, France jazz musicians will perform in a special jam session, highlighting the work Kahil has done with these inspiring young French musicians the past 5 years, Musiques de Nuit. (Not officially part of the World Music Fest)

Wed, Oct 25th
*Keefe Jackson's Fast Citizens upcoming new CD, Ready Everyday (DE 571) will be celebrating their anticipated release with a performance at Chicago's Hideout on Wednesday, October 25th, as part of the acclaimed Immediate Sound Wed nite series. 1354 W. Wabansia (Just north of North Ave off Elston) 773-227-4433.