Spiritmuse Records is a ‘democratic’ independent & audiophile recording label unearthing gems from past and future, music for mind & spirit – from spiritual jazz to ancient field recordings, releasing carefully curated quality products for a deep listening, spiritual experience, that is respectful to the musicians’ message & directly benefits the artists involved.
MUSIC FOR THE SPIRIT
A Time for Healing – Kahil El’Zabar Quartet
NEW ALBUM RELEASED 19 NOV 2021
Chicago’s legendary spiritual jazz shaman Kahil El’Zabar returns, leading an enviable ensemble of young masters from his hometown!
Kahil El’Zabar delivers yet another epic double LP’s worth of ancient/future music for the mind, body and soul. From swinging jazz that sings of his Chicago pedigree, to talking drums and soothing spiritual grooves that reconnect Black Classical Music with its African roots.
A cross-generational collaboration from the jazz luminary whose work spans more than five decades, with an extraordinary lineup that includes Corey Wilkes, long term El’Zabar collaborator (‘America the Beautiful’) and established Ethnic Heritage Ensemble member – one of best trumpeters in the world today. ‘Sonic scientist’ Isaiah Collier shines on saxophone, following his recent acclaimed album ‘Cosmic Transitions’ LP, hailed by many as the new ‘Coltrane’. Keyboard wizard Justin Dillard returns from ‘Spirit Groove’, with his earthy Hammond grooves that simultaneously ground and lift the quartet’s sound.
Kahil El’Zabar explores the gamut of Great Black Music in America, tracing its lineage through all the movements that’s flourished in Chicago, from the blues to R&B, soul, gospel, house music, spiritual jazz, and then back to all of its common African roots.
This is music for the mind, body and soul; earthy yet beautifully elevating; a bridge between the ancient roots of El’Zabar’s infectious groove & the urgency of the modern crisis-riven moment.
Recorded in December 2020 in Chicago, ‘A Time For Healing’ is not only the answer to the urgent questions asked by El’Zabar’s ‘America the Beautiful’; its’ spiritual and ever probing human journey offers a regenerative opus in the face of growing global anxiety. What the world needs right now is exactly what El’Zabar and his quartet have on offer: A Time for Healing.
David Ornette Cherry’s Organic Nation Listening Club (The Continual)
NEW ALBUM RELEASED 15 OCT 2021
The new album by ‘Cosmic Nomad’ David Ornette Cherry following his father’s tradition, the legendary, innovative jazz trumpeter and composer, Don Cherry. This a mosaic of healing soundscapes blending spiritual jazz, leftfield electronica, Eastern & native, indigenous sounds into musical parallels that transport the listener through doorways of ancient pathways to futurist crossroads.
David Ornette Cherry talks about his vision: “When I started my musical journey, my father, Don Cherry, took me under his wings. “To be an Artist/ Musician is a commitment, you must learn the music… own the music you create… and give it back. You must have a vision.”
I compose with the idea that all exist in a world of harmonies which mirror life evolving away from the chaotic (to the positive). There’s not just a co-existence but a melding of forms to produce a single musical expression.”
This is phenomenal music with David Ornette Cherry working with upcoming, talented musicians from across the globe into creating genre-defying, groovy, spiritual organic soundscapes that speak to the soul!
Kahil El’Zabar’s America the Beautiful
Spiritmuse Records proudly presents ‘Kahil El’Zabar’s America the Beautiful’, a tour de force musical testament that speaks directly to the heart, mind and spirit. Kahil El’Zabar composed, arranged and conducted ‘America the Beautiful’ to speak musically about the turbulent issues in America (and the world) today, as well as his hopes and love for a better tomorrow.
This incredible album features Kahil El’Zabar with an extended ensemble of woodwinds, brass, strings and an array of Afro-percussion, showcasing extraordinary players such as Corey Wilkes, Tomeka Reid, James Sanders, Josh Ramos, Miguel de la Cerna, Ernie Adams and Hamiet Bluiett (to whom this album is dedicated, as this was his last recording).
Kahil El’Zabar’s ‘America the Beautiful’ is an inspirational message channelled through powerful, spiritual music, that speaks with love, urgency and hope to our current times!
Cosmic Vibrations ft. Dwight Trible – Pathways & Passages
We’re excited to present ‘Nature’s Vision from “Pathways & Passages”, the debut album from “Cosmic Vibrations” – the LA based ensemble led by acclaimed jazz vocalist Dwight Trible, that defines spiritual jazz in the 21st century. A genre-defying amalgamation of divine vocals, soul-stirring jazz, healing poetry, with a rich tapestry of African, Mesoamerican and indigenous North American percussion and instrumentation, taking you on a cosmic journey of spiritual improvisation and beyond.
Cosmic Vibrations is a supergroup of heavyweight musicians with a vast combined experience, an ensemble of 6 souls who approach improvisation full of spirit and without ego. Gathered for this very purpose by Dwight Trible, undoubtedly the most acclaimed vocalist in the realms of spiritual jazz, they’re an incredibly talented and “deeply rooted” group in complete brotherly connection with one another. If you are looking for genuine, soul-enriching spiritual jazz today, look no further than “Pathways & Passages”.
Kahil El’Zabar’s ‘Spirit Groove’ ft David Murray
Kahil El’Zabar’s ‘Spirit Groove’ on Spiritmuse Records is the latest musical inspiration from Kahil El’Zabar, feat. the legendary tenor sax colossus, David Murray. El’Zabar’s & Murray’s collaborative efforts span over 4 decades of exceptional explorations in the varied realms of spiritual jazz. ’Spirit Groove’ is the defining moment upon their incredible journey to meaningful, spiritual art. They’re joined by two extraordinary talents, Emma Dayhuff on acoustic bass and Justin Dillard on synth, piano & organ. This is a phenomenal album, bringing an entirely new, elevated dimension to the spirit of groove!
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – Be Known Ancient/Future/Music
New spiritual jazz album by the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, led by legendary Chicago percussionist Kahil El’Zabar, an artist in a league of his own, acknowledged throughout the world as the leader in the vanguard of spiritual and afro-futuristic jazz.Alongside El’Zabar on multi-percussion & vocals is Corey Wilkes on trumpet, Alex Harding on baritone sax and Ian Maksin on cello. This is beautiful Afro-centric spiritual jazz on the forefront of the current popular jazz scene. The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble’s music… “seeks to spark a time in which heightened sensibility and higher consciousness will universally be known”.
Abdullah Sami – Peace of Time
In recent years, in the world of jazz and spiritual jazz, the phrase ‘holy grail’ has been often used. Once in a while though the phrase is truly justified, such as is the case with this reissue: Abdullah Sami – “Peace Of Time”
Recorded in New York in August 1977 and released in 1978 on Sami’s own label imprint, only 300 copies were ever pressed. Forty years later, such a fabled, rarely seen artefact would garner mythical status amongst spiritual Jazz seekers with original copies selling online for over $2,000.
Long out of print “Peace of Time” is perhaps the only documentation of Mudon Abdullah Sami’s then burgeoning talent. “Peace of Time” would fade into the almost forgotten recesses of the jazz mythos, until a worldwide search for Mudon Abdullah Sami was begun by the London-based label Spiritmuse Records. After over a year their search for the saxist was accomplished.
“Peace Of Time” showed the world the talent and scope of Mudon Abdullah Sami and remains a classic unto this day and beyond. “Peace of Time” and the story of Mudon Abdullah Sami is the true stuff of legend.