Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio

Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio

In 1974, the celebrated percussionist and bandleader Dr. Kahil El’Zabar began creating music dedicated to fusing Black American musical vernacular, traditional African rhythm and instrumentation, and forward-thinking sonic motifs. Fifty years later, El’Zabar and his ever-evolving ensembles (including Ethnic Heritage Ensemble) are still going strong, regularly serving up some of the most electrifying spiritual jazz across the United States and beyond.

Sonically, Ritual Trio are known for its tight, trance-like rhythmic foundation, innovative harmonics and counterpoint, and deeply-honed group interplay. Their performances are heavy and transportative: pulsating drums and kalimba, blaring brass and sax, interlocking grooves, and El’Zabar’s animated and quasi-shamanic command of the stage all collide.

Alongside the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Kahil’s projects are of just two remaining original projects nurtured by the Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM)—of which El’Zabar was chairman from 1975 to 1982—and thus represents a rich and critical cross-generational continuity for African American music. Across its storied history, the group has counted among its members the visionary tenor saxophonist Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, trombonist Joseph Bowie (brother of Lester), and a plethora of Chicagoan talent from Ernest Dawkins to Isaiah Collier.