Summer Shakeup with MISD
Dr. Kahil El’Zabar & the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
As part of Marfa Independent School District’s Summer Shakeup program, Ballroom Marfa hosted Music Moves U, a workshop led by Dr. Kahil El’Zabar and his band, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Led by Dr. El’Zabar, students built homemade instruments and then practiced playing and improvising on these instruments. After practicing, the group performed a final show with the band. Students investigated the properties of rhythm, ensemble performance, melodic and harmonic sensibilities, and improvisation while learning about the history of music, team building, and personal expression.
The class was free to attend and open to all students 10 years and older.
Artist Profile
Dr. Kahil El’Zabar
Among modern jazz enthusiasts, Dr. El’Zabar is known as jazz music’s “best-kept secret.” Dr. El’Zabar is an internationally acclaimed percussionist, composer and educator, who has performed with jazz greats Cannonball Adderley, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp and Dizzy Gillespie, and in the bands of Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone. In the 1970s, he formed the Ritual Trio and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, both of which remain active today.
Images
Acknowledgments
In-kind support provided by Crowley Theater and MISD.
Special thanks to Jennifer Bell, The Big Bend Sentinel, Michael Camacho, the Crowley Theater Foundation, Rob Crowley, Tim Crowley, Jaylia Foster, Raquel Jenkins, Marfa Public Radio, Marfa Recording Company, Ross McGlothlin, Andrew Peters, K Yoland, and the students and parents of Marfa.
