Kahil El’Zabar Ritual Trio - The Ancestors Are Amongst Us – (Katalyst, 2010) ****

By Stef

I'm listening to too much music at the same time, which blocks my writing somehow. At the occasion of the now official release of Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio peformance in Saalfelden in 1987, I wanted to give a complete discography by the drummer/percussionist, but got stuck in all the grey zones of his record output.

This trio live performance, with the great Lester Bowie on trumpet, and the great Malachi Favors on bass is a must for all fans. El'Zabar is the real great of tribal rhythms, creating very long hypnotic foundations for the soloists to improvise freely, spiritually, bluesy. Lester Bowie is of course a master at all that : he sings, wails, growls, weeps, stutters, moans, farts,  ... he can build tension, he can build stories out of thin air and take the listener on for some great moments. Favors is equally good, as comfortable with boppish rhythmic support as diving into adventurous zones, especially when bowed. And El'Zabar is great. I think I have almost all his albums (with only a few missing). I can only recommend him to those of you who don't know him. The others won't need convincing.

The sound quality of this live performance is not always perfect, but the music is such a joy to hear. Go for it.


 Here is my attempt at El'Zabar's discography.

1990 - Alika Rising (at Leverkusener Jazztage)
2004 - Love Outside Of Dreams
1985 - The Ritual
1985 - Sacred Love
1986 - Another Kind of Groove
1991 - Dance with the Ancestors
1994 - Big Cliff
1994 - Renaissance Of The Resistance
1997 - Jitterbug Junction
1998 - Bright Moments - Return Of The Lost Tribes
1999 - The Power
1999 - Conversations
2000 - Africa N'Da Blues
2000 - One World Family
2001 - Spirits Entering
2005 - Live At The River East Arts Center
2006 - Big M
2007 - Transmigration
2007 - Contrary Motion
 2008 - Ooh Live

???     - … with Pharoah Sanders
????? - Kahil El’Zabar
???  - Live At The Village Gate Square

With Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

1981 - Three Gentlemen From Chicago
1982 - Impressions
1984 - Welcome
1988 - Ancestral Song - Live From Stockholm
1997 - The Continuum
1992 - Hang Tuff
1993 - Dance With The Ancestors
1998 - Papa's Bounce
1999 - Freedom Jazz Dance
2002 - 21st Century Union March
2000 - Ka-Real
2000 - Live At The Hot House, Chicago
2005 - 30th Anniversary Live In Switzerland (iTunes only?)
2007 - Live At The Ascension Loft (Hot ‘n’ Heavy)
2009 - Mama's House Live


Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray
1989 - Golden Sea 
2000 - One World Family
2004 - We Is : Live At the Bop Shop
2005 - Live In Italy (iTunes only?)
2005 - Jazznacht Live (iTunes only?)