American. Chicagoan master percussionist-vocalist Kahil El’Zabar stresses the spiritual, transformative essence of his music, and especially the healing power of rhythm, in all his ensembles: the Ritual Trio, Infinity Orchestra, Spirit Groove, and the Heritage Ensemble. Let The Spirit Out, Live at ‘mu’ London creates this kind of uplifting, spiritual atmosphere, live, featuring mostly new material, and the timeless ritual of communion – musicians, audience, and the music.
It offers a powerful message to the world today, speaking about release, freedom, revelation, and empowerment. This double album was recorded in two evenings in July 2024 at the ‘mu’ in London, an audiophile space for a healing, immersive experience. The album is released by the London-based Spiritmuse Records, which, like El’Zabar, focuses on «Music For The Spirit», and has released his recent albums. And El’Zabar stresses the importance of such music in the current distressing times: «We, the people of spirit, will rise to a higher consciousness beyond these darkest times, forging telepathic kinships of empowered Love. Jump and Shout, Let the Spirit Out!»
The Ethnic Heritage – El’Zabaron kalimba, cajon, drums, and vocals, trumpeter-percussionist Corey Wilkes, baritone sax player Alex Harding, and cellist Ishmael Ali – is well-versed in this kind of expansive performances that distils magical, transcendental moments, where improvisation and spirit merge, and deepens the profound bond between artists and community. The audience clearly played its part in this musical-spiritual bond.
El’Zabar structured these performances on the concept of free, raw expression, deeply attuned and possessed by the live, healing energy of rhythm, expressed through sound. He added a loose chapter of free, meditative, and reimagined interpretations of classics, serving as a heartfelt homage to jazz heroes – Wayne Shorter’s «Footprints», George Gershwin’s «Summertime», and Juan Tizol & Duke Ellington’s «Caravan», and to John Coltrane in «Trane in Mind».
This is a highly uplifting kind of spiritual jazz that asks its audiences to strip away layers of restraint, inviting listeners to experience liberation and healing, and let truth, passion, and light emerge without fear, live during the performances, and outside against tyrannical rulers and their futile wars.
Eyal Hareuveni
Kahil El’Zabar (kalimba, cajon, drums, voice), Corey Wilkes (trumpet, percussion), Alex Harding (baritone saxophone), Ishmael Ali (cello)
