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Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

The Ethnic Traditions Outfit was formed soon after percussionist Kahil El’Zabar graduated from the institution from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Music artists in 1976. He teamed up with tenor saxophonist Edward Wilkerson, Jr., to try out music that mixed modern African-American musical designs, like jazz, with an increase of traditional African instrumentation and rhythms. The duo would often grow to some trio in these initial years, adding music artists like saxophonist Light Henry Huff and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre; through comprehensive touring in European countries and america, they begun to build a global popularity. In 1988, they added trombonist and conga participant Joseph Bowie, who was simply the leader from the jazz-funk group Defunkt. This trio settings became both long-living and effective, recording on several European record brands. 1993 brought their first saving with an American label, Dance using the Ancestors, that was documented for Chameleon Information. In 1997, Wilkerson was changed by Ernest “Khabeer” Dawkins, who was simply first featured on the recording created by the Outfit in 1999, Independence Jazz Dance. That record, which also highlighted Chicago jazz tale Fareed Haque, premiered with the Delmark label and continuing the Ensemble’s custom of music with today’s sensibility and an ancestral nature. February 2002 discovered the group on the UNITED STATES tour celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. By 2006, Bowie’s place had been stuffed by youthful trumpeter Corey Wilkes if they documented Live on the Ascension Loft, released in early 2007.

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