KAHIL EL’ZABAR’S
ETHNIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE
Kahil El’Zabar and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble are celebrating 50 years of their rich legacy and unwavering contribution to Great Black Music.
This is Ancient / Future / Music for the Now and Beyond.
NEW ALBUM:
Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound & Spirit
Film by Christopher Andrew, www.stoptime.live | shot by Alex Brescanu and Christopher Andrew
Compared to What
The first offering from the incredible new album by Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit, celebrating 50 yrs of their legacy & unwavering contribution to Great Black Music. ‘Compared to What’ is a powerful statement on their incomparable sound, with El’Zabar on kalimba & vocals, Corey Wilkes on trumpet, Alex Harding on sax, ft. James Sanders on violin & Ishmael Ali on cello.
Return of the Lost Tribe
The second offering from the new, phenomenal forthcoming album by Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, ‘Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit’, ‘Return of the Lost Tribe’ stands as a powerful testament to their legacy and unwavering contribution to Great Black Music. Both invigorating and spiritually resonant, it’s an EHE classic, composed by El’Zabar during the Ensemble’s historic early days. “The music intends to convey that something powerful and inspired is returning, or coming around again with inspired vigor and wisdom.”
This instrumental tour de force is performed fearlessly by the spiritual jazz shaman and the current EHE long-term collaborators and renowned masters – Corey Wilkes on trumpet and Alex Harding on baritone sax, also featuring James Sanders on violin and viola, and Ishmael Ali on cello. This is a deep, meaningful explosive sonic journey, a triumphant ‘return of the lost tribe’ to a music lineage that transcends space and time, and a powerful statement of their commitment to Ancient / Future / Music.
Open Me
‘Open Me’ is a deep, layered track written by El’Zabar in honour of the EHE’s 50th anniversary celebrations formidable career, with the Chicago legend performing most of the instruments on this track.
The spiritual jazz legend shares with us his inspiration and message: “Open Me is a meditation upon the acceptance of abundant possibilities. I wrote this music as an entry into humble beginnings of openness, where we can once again be free and let go of all barriers.” “Open Me” is performed by El’Zabar with contributions from the current lineup of the Ensemble: Corey Wilkes (trumpet, percussion), Alex Harding (baritone sax), plus James Sanders (violin and viola) and Ishmael Ali (cello).
The making of ‘Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound & Spirit’
THE NEW ALBUM
Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound & Spirit
Celebrating 50 years of Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble’s legacy and unwavering contribution to Great Black Music. ‘Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit’ is a new Ethnic Heritage Ensemble sound, constantly shifting gears and tempos in a jazz-blues continuum, in perpetual spontaneity, combining their meaningful music history with an innovative approach to arrangements, performance and improvisation.
This is Ancient / Future Music for the Now and Beyond.
“I have strived to live my life as a servant of rituals that inspire the greater good of humanity. Looking back on the 50 years of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, I am most thankful to all who have played a part in its development and longevity.”
Kahil El’Zabar
