Since the 1970s, percussionist, drummer, composer, and bandleader Kahil El'Zabar has established himself as a prolific jazz innovator. Regarded by critics as a "renaissance man," his musical style embraces folkloric, spiritual, and musical traditions from ancient Africa that he integrates with music and culture from the modern world. Among his creative vehicles are the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Ritual Trio; he has also issued numerous solo and collaborative projects. He founded the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Ritual Trio(both remain active), played alongside jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderley, worked in the bands of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone (whom he also designed clothes for), and Paul Simon, worked with indie rock bands, and headed up the groundbreaking jazz/house music outfit JUBA Collective. Key albums include the EHE's debut, Three Gentlemen from Chicago in 1981, Ritual Trio's 1985 debut The Ritual, and 2000's Africa N'Da Blues with Archie Shepp, Ari Brown, Malachi Favors, and Pharoah Sanders. 2007's solo outing Transmigration was acclaimed as a new chapter for the veteran artist. In 2014, Black Is Back showcased a more spacious aspect of EHE's sound. In 2017, El'Zabar was the subject of the Dwayne Johnson-Cochran documentary Be Known: The Mystery of Kahil El Zabar.
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