The Kahil El’Zabar Quartet States What It Is!

As Howard Mandel observes, the new Delmark release What It Is! by The Kahil El’Zabar Quartet is the 58th recording to feature the composer-drummer/percussionist-bandleader-music director Kahil El’Zabar. One of the many important musicians to emerge out of Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM) his credits are multiple, including being part of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble with saxophonist Ernest Dawkins. 

On What It Is!, El’Zabar is joined by Kevin Nabors on tenor saxophone, Justin Dillard on piano, Hammond B-3 and Fender Rhodes, and Junius Paul on bass. The selections with Dillard on the Hammond B-3 provide a fresh twist on an organ group from the opening moments of The Nature Of, as Dillard brings some interesting voicings on the B-3 while Nabors displays a robust attack and full-bodied tone. Paul takes a solo while the leader keeps the groove percolating on this spirited opening track. On Impressions, the first of the two Coltrane covers, the group shows the influence of the classic Coltrane quartet while providing their own personality. One can certainly hear Coltrane’s influence in Nabors’ fervent tenor here, while Dillard evokes McCoy Tyner as well. Dillard is on the Fender Rhodes while the leader is on the African Earth Drum for the title track and sings on a soulful number that has a seventies’ rhythm’n’blues flavor.

“Song Of Myself” has Dillard back on the B3 and, as Howard Mandel observes, he explores some of the realms that Larry Young had ventured in against Paul’s firm ostinato bass and the leader’s sure footed groove. Nabors takes a lengthy solo that also takes unexpected twists while his playing displays his ability to build up a lengthy solo. The other Coltrane cover, Central Park West, is an particularly appealing organ-group reworking of the ballad with Paul contributing a lively bass underpinning, and El’Zabar’s hand drumming supporting Nabors vigorous tenor sax here with Dillard laying down some soulful organ. From The Heart is a lovely original with the leader on kalimba (thumb piano) setting the tenor of the performance. Kari, named after Kahil’s son, is a lively closer in a Coltrane vein. 

What it Is! is outstanding with varied material and energetic, swinging playing by The Kahil El’Zabar’s Quartet. The music here a joy to listen to.

I received my review copy from Delmark. This was the second recording by Kahil El'Zabar I have heard and it inspired me to purchase three more CDs by him (including one by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble).

Ernest Dawkins Straight-ahead Afro Straight.

A former President of the Chicago-based Association For the Advancement of Creative Musicians, who is a co-leader of Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and leader of the New Horizons Ensemble, saxophonist Ernest Dawkins leads a program of straight ahead jazz on his latest Delmark album, Afro Straight. Dawkins, a noted composer as well as a musician and band leader, has assembled a group that includes Corey Wilkes on trumpet, Willerm Delisfort on piano, Junius Paul on bass and Isaiah Spencer on drums with Ruben Alvarez or others playing congas and percussion. Ben Paterson on organ for one selection. The album is interprets eight standards and modern jazz classics, along with two Dawkins originals. With the percussionist on many selections, a definite Afro-Latin flavor is prevalent

The opening rendition of John Coltrane’s tribute to bassist Paul Chambers, Mr. P.C., establishes the authority that Dawkins, Wilkes and the rest play with. Even more satisfying is a rendition of a lesser known Wayne Shorter composition, United. After Dawkins’ original that gives this recording its title, a percussion feature for Dawkins, Alvarez and Greg Penn, Dawkins (with Wilkes sitting out) provides his take of another Coltrane composition, Central Park West, with pianist Delisfort standing out.

Dizzy Gillespie’s classic, Woody’N You, opens with muted trumpet from Wilkes before Dawkins’ vocalized saxophone. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, opens with a brief flurry of free playing before the group evokes the hard bop of the late fifties and early sixties with some wonderful playing by all. Ben Paterson’s organ on God Bless The Child provides a soulful underpinning for Dawkins’ expressive playing. Spencer plays lightly here on an outstanding performance. Old Man Blues is a straight blues with wonderful playing along with Dawkins’ amiable vocal of traditional blues lyrics. A spirited interpretation of Wayne Shorter’s “Juju” closes out this CD. 

Dawkins considers Afro Straight to be a tribute to John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Von Freeman, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins and other great jazz saxophonists. Throughout Dawkins and band lend their own voices to well-known songs for the imaginative and fresh recordings  on this. This is an excellent recording that easily refutes the stereotype that free jazz players can’t play straight-ahead. They can and do so convincingly here.

I received my review copy from Delmark. Here is Ernest Dawkins performing with an organist and drummer, You Don't Know What Love Is.