Kahil El’Zabar’s Sketches for Trane

Performing and recording at the vanguard of the global jazz/music scene for the past five decades, Sir Kahil El’Zabar’s impact on creative music and culture at large is beyond significant. Known firstly as an accomplished multi-percussionist, El’Zabar is also a bandleader, composer, conductor, vocalist, arts curator, and educator. His pioneering sound and improvisational practice, sometimes described as “spiritual groove”, has been influential and widespread, inspiring musicians as well as artists across disciplines, who have recognized the importance of freedom through artistic expression.

As a youth in the late 60’s El’Zabar attended classes at The AACM (The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) where he was mentored by its founders Phil Cohran, (an alumni of the Sun Ra Arkestra) and  Muhal Richard Abrams (first chairman of the AACM). This is where he honed his chops , alongside legends such as Lester Bowie, Malachi Favors, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, and Steve McCall. El’Zabar studied West African music and culture  at the University of Ghana as an exchange student before graduating from Lake Forest College in 1973. Shortly after his return he founded The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in 74’. In 1975 he was elected as  chairman of AACM and would serve in this post for over a decade.

El’Zabar also founded The Ritual Trio, originally featuring Art Ensemble’s Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors, focused on avant-garde jazz, later recordings included Billy Bang,  Pharoah Sanders, and Archie Shepp. This combination of sonic ritual and jazz swing would inspire the conceptual framework for a pioneering sound.

El’Zabar’s commitment to nurturing young and upcoming musicians has inspired a new generation of Chicago masters, such as Corey Wilkes, Junius Paul, Tomeka Reid, Justin Dillard, and Isaiah Collier who have all been featured on his most recent recordings. Through his JUBA Collective and Deeper Soul project, El’Zabar pioneered the fusion of  avant-garde jazz, house music, and hip-hop into a new sound. His contributions to the EDM scene were recognized  by Iconic DJ’s Osunlade, Henriik Schwarz, and IG Culture remixing his work.

Most recently, Kahil El’Zabar’s essential albums released on Spiritmuse Records have rightfully re-established him worldwide as an authentic and leading artist in spiritual jazz and groove. These albums include ‘Spirit Groove’ featuring legendary saxophonist David Murray, the epic & magnificent ‘America the Beautiful’ and with the Kahil El’Zabar Quartet, 2022’s grammy nominated  ‘A Time For Healing’ which is in its third pressing, and the most recent release ‘Spirit Gatherer, Tribute to Don Cherry’ in 2023, a tribute to the late, great spiritual jazz trumpeter, Don Cherry.

Sir Kahil El’Zabar, was Knighted by the Council General of France for his Global contributions to the Arts. He has performed with luminaries like, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Harris, Donny Hathaway, Paul Simon, Ntozake Shange, Nona Hendryx, Neneh Cherry, Hamiet Bluiett, Gene Ammons, to name a few. Dr.El’Zabar, holds a PHD also from Lake Forest College in Interdisciplinary Arts. He taught music at the U. Nebraska/Lincoln, and U. IL/Chicago. He was Appointed by Pres. Bill Clinton to the National Task Force for Arts Presenting in Education. He was  presented the International Ambassador Award from Pres. Barak Obama’s Administration. El’zabar, has served on the prestigious boards of the Lila Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund, The National Endowment of the Arts, and the National Campaign for the Freedom of Expression. He currently serves on the board of directors for Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, and the advisory panel for African Exhibits : Art Institute of Chicago. He is the conceptual developer and founder of OOH NOW, an online culture network.​

Kahil El’Zabar has recorded 70 + acclaimed projects and is an artist truly in a league of his own. He is acknowledged throughout the world as one of the last living and undoubted leaders in the vanguard of spiritual jazz and groove.

 

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Catalogue

SPIRITMUSE RECORDS

Music for the Spirit

Spiritmuse Records is an independent recording label focusing on MUSIC FOR THE SPIRIT – from spiritual jazz to ancient field recordings, releasing carefully curated products for a deep listening, spiritual experience.   

Let the Spirit Out, Live at “mu”

Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Let the Spirit Out, Live at “mu” London

Let the Spirit Out, Live at “mu” London is a unique concept of recording spiritual jazz master Kahil El’Zabar and the legendary Ethnic Heritage Ensemble performing new, unrecorded material purposefully in a live audience environment, to capture the essence of the ancient ritual of communion through music. It’s El’Zabar’s powerful message to the world today, a call to transcend boundaries with the uncontainable force of the human spirit, expressed through sound. Let the Spirit Out is a recorded ritual that sees the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble at their most powerful: raw, expansive, transcendent and deeply attuned to the healing energy of rhythm.

Deluxe 2 x LP black classic double vinyl in deep pocket luxury sleeve with obi and original artwork by Nep Sidhu

SPM012 Journey to Nabta Playa - Angel Bat Dawid & Naima Nefertari

Angel Bat Dawid & Naima Nefertari - Journey to Nabta Playa

Journey to Nabta Playa is a remarkable collaboration between composer and multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid and multi-disciplinary artist/ musician Naima Nefertari (aka Karlsson). The album is a journey in sound and sisterhood rooted in the artists’ historical exploration of an ancient stone circle in Nabta Playa, a deeply sacred astronomical site in the remote deserts of ancient Nubia. Their historical research of the site acts as a point of departure for the story this album tells and embodies more than just a musical testament; it is a spiritual and sonic journey into a lesser-told piece of history.

This 180g 2xLP gatefold album with art by Nep Sidhu and a painting by Kahil El’Zabar, also comes with a beautiful zine incl. texts by Neneh Cherry, Imani Mason Jordan, Tej Adeleye and Dr Adam Zanolini

Surya Botofasina - Ashram Sun

‘Ashram Sun’, Surya Botofasina’s much-anticipated album follows his hugely acclaimed debut ‘Everyone’s Children’ and his first offering since his contribution to ‘New Blue Sun’ and global touring alongside André 3000. It is an ode to Surya’s upbringing and musical teachings in the tradition of Swamini Turiyasangitananda – aka Alice Coltrane, by the spiritual jazz colossus Herself, at Her Sai Anantam Ashram in California. ‘Ashram Sun’ is a deep listening, spiritual masterpiece with close collaborators Carlos Niño and Nate Mercereau, incl. contributions from the high priestesses of music Angel Bat Dawid, Mia Doi Todd, MidnightRoba and Radha Botofasina.

Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble • Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and 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.
ETHNIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE SPIRIT GATHERER • Tribute to Don Cherry ft Dwight Trible & David Ornette Cherry

Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble • SPIRIT GATHERER • Tribute to Don Cherry

The incredible offering by visionary percussionist and Chicago legend Kahil El’Zabar and his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, ‘Spirit Gatherer • Tribute to Don Cherry’. Joined by master vocal shaman Dwight Trible and the late, extraordinary multi-instrumentalist David Ornette Cherry, this is a powerful, spiritualised tribute to the profundity of Don Cherry’s contribution to universal musical and artistic culture, and an ode to one of the giants of twentieth century music.

Surya Botofasina • Everyone's Children

The phenomenal debut album by extraordinary keyboardist and composer Surya Botofasina. Surya was taught in the tradition of Alice Coltrane, by Swamini Turiyasangitananda herself, on her Ashram in California where he grew up. Produced by and co-performed with Carlos Niño in Los Angeles, this is a unique, deep listening masterpiece of spiritual jazz and meditative sounds from a progressive Sonic Artist devoted to: “OneLove. Family. Music.”

Spiritmuse presents Spirit of France

Obscure, rare spiritual jazz, deep folklore and psychedelia sounds from the French ‘70s – ‘80s underground

‘Spirit of France’ celebrates the artists whose total desire ‘not to belong’ to a particular trend expanded their horizon by pushing the boundaries of creative music. Recording in caves during the full moon, or in the open air in Ibiza to celebrate the sun – with flutes, cromorne, darbouka and hurdy-gurdy, or with fascinating-sounding unusual instruments and with heavy influences from Indian, African, Arabic, Eastern and Malagasy cultures, that’s what makes this selection so unique.

A Time or Healing - Kahil El'Zabar Quartet

Kahil El’Zabar Quartet • A Time for Healing

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.

What the world needs right now is exactly what El’Zabar and his quartet have on offer: A Time for Healing. 

SPM006-David-Ornette-Cherry-Organic-Nation-Listening-Club-(the-continual)---Album-ArtSPM006 - David Ornette Cherry's Organic Nation Listening Club (the continual)

David Ornette Cherry • Organic Nation Listening Club (The Continual)

The incredible, unique sounds of ‘Cosmic Nomad’ David Ornette Cherry’s ‘Organic Nation Listening Club – The Continual’! This is a mosaic of spiritual jazz, left-field electronica, Eastern, native and indigenous sounds for an immersive, deep listening experience. For his latest work, David Ornette Cherry is focused in continuing his father’s tradition – the legendary trumpeter, composer and spiritual world and jazz music pioneer Don Cherry, in encompassing his creative music approach and methods into healing, ancestral and futuristic soundscapes for the 21st century.
Kahil El’Zabar’s America the Beautiful - Spiritmuse Records

Kahil El’Zabar's America The Beautiful

The innovative multi-percussionist Kahil El’Zabar composes, arranges and conducts an incredible new album, a tour de force musical testament to speak about the turbulent issues in America and the world today, as well as his hopes and love for a better tomorrow. It features masterful performances by the (late, great) Hamiet Bluiett, Corey Wilkes, Tomeka Reid & the James Sanders String Qt. A strong percussion section is complimented by strings and brass, in a powerful blend of spiritual groove, melody and improvisation. – an inspired re-imagining of a better world.
Cosmic Vibrations ft. Dwight Trible

Cosmic Vibrations ft. Dwight Trible • Pathways & Passages

The debut album by the new LA-based ensemble led by the extraordinary jazz vocalist Dwight Trible. A genre-defying amalgamation of divine vocals, soul-stirring jazz, healing poetry, with a rich tapestry of African, MesoAmerican and North American indigenous percussion, intuitive improvisation and deeply spiritual music.

This supergroup, led by legendary vocalist Dwight Trible, forms of incredibly experienced and innovative musicians – such as Derf Reklaw, Pablo Calogero, John B. Williams, Christopher Garcia & Breeze Smith, taking you on a cosmic journey of spiritual improvisation and beyond!

Kahil El’Zabar’s ‘Spirit Groove’ ft David Murray

Kahil El’Zabar’s Spirit Groove ft. David Murray

The legendary multi-percussionist and spiritual jazz master Kahil El’Zabar continues his quest of spirit through groove in his collaboration with tenor sax colossus, David Murray. Kahil El’Zabar’s ‘Spirit Groove’ ft. David Murray is the defining moment upon their incredible journey to meaningful art. This is a phenomenal album, adding an entirely new, elevated dimension to the Spirit of Groove!
Cosmic Vibrations ft. Dwight Trible

Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble • Be Known: Ancient /Future /Music

The new spiritual jazz album by the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, ‘Be Known Ancient/Future/Music’. Led by legendary Chicago percussionist Kahil El’Zabar, an artist in a league of his own, who’s 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

Abdullah Sami • Peace of Time

This ultra rare private press spiritual jazz holy grail, is a masterpiece from New York’s & Chicago’s late ‘70s underground jazz scene, that has acquired mythical status by now. Originally released in 1978 by the artist in just 300 copies, it’s now been remastered and reissued for the first time on vinyl. ‘Peace of Time’ and the story of Abdullah Mudon Sami is the true stuff of legend!

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