Kahil El'Zabar American drummer and composer Date of Birth: 11.11.1953 Country: USA

1. Biography of Kahil El-Zabar
2. Early Life and Ethnic Background
3. Musical Career and Collaborations
4. Personal Life and Other Ventures

Biography of Kahil El-Zabar

Kahil El-Zabar is an American drummer and composer who is considered one of the most promising jazz musicians of his generation. His style represents an original interpretation of classical ancient African motifs through the lens of the modern world. El-Zabar believes that the spirit of an idea is always more important than its technical execution. He believes that the highest technologies in the world are powerless if they cannot produce worthy melodies from the heart.

Early Life and Ethnic Background

El-Zabar was fortunate to be born during a time when African Americans began actively exploring their origins and history. Growing up in Chicago, he was exposed to a variety of music genres such as doo-wop, R&B, gospel, blues, and jazz. El-Zabar credits his ethnic background as the foundation for his personal growth as an artist. While he has deep knowledge of the history and music of the African American community, he continues to strive to connect with the spirit of his ancestors in order to create unique sound combinations.

Musical Career and Collaborations

El-Zabar is skilled in playing a wide range of instruments, including congas, bongos, African drums, gongs, balafons, marimbas, sanzas, kalimbas, and berimbaus. His genre boundaries are limitless, as he has had the opportunity to perform with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderley, work with musicians like Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone (he also designed costumes for her at one point), collaborate with Paul Simon, record with rock bands like 'Sonia Dada' and 'Poi Dog Pondering', and lead the jazz-house ensemble 'JUBA Collective'.

Personal Life and Other Ventures

El-Zabar was born in Chicago, where music was played on every street corner. He attended Kennedy-King College and later transferred to Malcolm X College and Lake Forest College. At the age of 18, El-Zabar had the opportunity to learn mime under the guidance of Marcel Marceau, but he chose to attend the University of Ghana to study African music instead. In the early 1970s, he formed his own group called 'Ethnic Heritage Ensemble' and later started the 'Ritual Trio', both of which he continues to work with to this day.

In addition to his music career, El-Zabar has also ventured into the film industry, participating in the creation of three artistic films - 'Love Jones', 'Mo' Money', and 'How U Like Me Now'. He also had leading roles in the films 'Savannah', 'So Low But Not Alone', and 'The Last Set'. El-Zabar was chosen to direct the stage production of 'The Lion King', and he has published a book of poetry. He has also been involved in tailoring and worked as the director of the 'Traffic' program at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago from 1996 to 1999.

Furthermore, El-Zabar has taught as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1991, he was invited to perform at the Leverkusen Jazz Festival in Germany, where he presented a twenty-year retrospective of his work with the 'Infinity' orchestra.