Kahil El’Zabar
Spiritual groove and African pulse – 50 years of Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Kahil El’Zabar has long been one of the most visionary and deeply rooted figures on Chicago’s renowned improvised music scene. As a member of the groundbreaking AACM collective, he has consistently challenged conventions and created new musical languages. In 1974, he founded the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – a project aimed at merging African-American musical traditions, especially jazz, with African instruments and rhythmic expression.
Today, the group features trumpeter Corey Wilkes, tenor saxophonist Kevin Nabors, cellist Ishmael Ali, and El’Zabar himself on drum kit, hand percussion, kalimba, and his deeply emotive vocal chants. Together, they create music that is spiritual, rhythmic, and rich in improvisational power – a force that, in live performance, transforms into a deeply present and ritualistic experience, rooted in history and charged with future energy.
In 2024, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble marked its 50th anniversary with the acclaimed album Open Me, released on London’s SpiritMuse Records, and an extensive world tour that confirmed the group’s artistic voice is as vital and relevant as ever.
Lineup:
Kahil El'Zabar - Drums/Percussions, Corey Wilkes - Trumpet, Kevin Nabors - Tenor Saxophone, Ishmael Ali - Cello