If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Sandro Miller "Return of the Lost Tribe" was recorded by Kahil El'Zabar along with Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians leaders, and now he's taking another turn at it with Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. This new version is part of the group's fiftieth anniversary. It has that free jazz feel to the song, and listening is a very immersive experience. The song kind of plods around at its own pace with the musicians in the Ensemble meandering off in their own directions while propelling the song along to the same destination. This is the kind of jazz that is perfect for people who claim they hate jazz. It has all of the elements that make jazz jazz, but it also adds in a little something extra that sounds more like both funk and folk music. "Return of the Lost Tribe" is one of the most engaging instrumental tracks you'll hear all year. Kahil El'Zabar says of his band's new song: “The music intends to convey that something po...

Photo by Christopher Andrew To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Kahil El'Zabar's group has announced a new album, single, and tour. The single, "Compared to What," is rooted in the tradition of blues and jazz. That being said, even if those genres aren't typically your thing, I'd advise you to give the new song a chance. This is the style of music that isn't truly locked into a single genre. "Compared to What" shows how jazz and blues are truly the roots of all modern music. There are threads of hip hop, indie rock, soul, dance music... literally any modern genre you can think of reflected here. This is the kind of song that will have you gleefully diving into the artist's back catalog, and seeing as how it's fifty years of music, there is plenty to discover. Kahil El'Zabar says of the group's new single: “Compared To What’ was my father, Clifton Blackburn Sr’s favorite tune. On Saturdays he woul...