BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Blue LLama - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Blue LLama X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bluellamaclub.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Blue LLama REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Detroit BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T183000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20251215T191734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T171100Z UID:10000196-1771603200-1771612200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Swing Happy Hour: Kerrytown Stompers DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/swing-happy-hour-kerrytown-stompers-3/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kerrytown-stompers.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20251215T191936Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T162151Z UID:10000172-1771614000-1771623000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Nate Winn Group DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/nate-winn-group/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nate-winn.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260221T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260221T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20251215T192055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T162636Z UID:10000173-1771700400-1771709400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Sean Dobbins All Star Quintet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/sean-dobbins-3/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SeanDobbinsBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260222T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260222T203000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20260107T161929Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T163523Z UID:10000236-1771783200-1771792200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Jordan Anderson Trio DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/jordan-anderson-trio/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/jordan-anderson.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260225T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260225T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20260105T185307Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T162058Z UID:10000234-1772046000-1772055000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Ramona Collins Quartet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/ramona-collins-quartet/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ramona-collins.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260226T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260226T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20251215T192530Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T162719Z UID:10000218-1772132400-1772141400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Houston Patton & Hidden Nomination DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/houston-patton-hidden-nomination-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/houston-patton.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260227T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260227T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20260119T171905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T163315Z UID:10000197-1772218800-1772227800@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/kahil-el-zabar/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/kahil-el-zabar.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260228T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260228T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20251215T192817Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T163744Z UID:10000198-1772305200-1772316000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Chico Pinheiro + Kzoo Jazz Project DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/chico-pinheiro-kzoo-jazz-project/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chico-pinheiro.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260301T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260301T203000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20260107T172132Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T164203Z UID:10000221-1772388000-1772397000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Jazz & Poetry with One Single Rose DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/jazz-poetry-with-one-single-rose/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/One-Single-Rose.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260304T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260304T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20251217T175405Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T162221Z UID:10000222-1772650800-1772659800@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Alex Anest Trio DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/alex-anest-trio/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alex-anest.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260305T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260305T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20260129T152130Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T212030Z UID:10000247-1772737200-1772748000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Bria Skonberg DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/bria-skonberg/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bria-skonberg.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260306T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260306T180000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070734 CREATED:20260122T174212Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260306T145050Z UID:10000248-1772812800-1772820000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:WEMU 5:01 Jazz Series: Ellen Rowe DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/501-ellen-rowe/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ellen-rowe.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260306T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260306T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T175516Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T183945Z UID:10000199-1772823600-1772834400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Don Hicks & Friends DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/don-hicks-and-friends-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/don-hicks.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260307T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260307T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251226T171135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T164215Z UID:10000200-1772910000-1772920800@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Tatiana Eva-Marie DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/tatiana-eva-marie/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/tatiana-.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260308T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260308T203000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T175654Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T164621Z UID:10000201-1772992800-1773001800@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Anthony Stanco Quintet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/anthony-stanco-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/anthony-stanco.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260311T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260311T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T175914Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T154808Z UID:10000202-1773255600-1773264600@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Mercer Patterson Quintet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/mercer-patterson-quintet-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MercerPattersonBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260312T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260312T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T180549Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T173258Z UID:10000203-1773342000-1773352800@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:New Nostalgia DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/new-nostalgia/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/new-nostalgia.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260313T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260313T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T180756Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T144152Z UID:10000204-1773428400-1773439200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Pamela Wise & Naima Shambourger: Celebrating Women in Jazz DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/pamela-wise/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pamela-wise.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260314T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260314T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251226T170840Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T191549Z UID:10000205-1773514800-1773525600@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Immanuel Wilkins Quartet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/immanuel-wilkins/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/immanuel-wilkins.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260315T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260315T203000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T180905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T183253Z UID:10000206-1773597600-1773606600@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Rick Roe Trio DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/rick-roe-trio-3/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/rick-roe.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260318T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260318T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T181619Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T173733Z UID:10000224-1773860400-1773869400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Lisa Sung Quartet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/lisa-sung-quartet/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lisa-sung-piano.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T181708Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T173802Z UID:10000207-1773946800-1773957600@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Randy Napoleon DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/randy-napoleon/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/randy-napoleon.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260320T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260320T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251226T170628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T134736Z UID:10000208-1774033200-1774044000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Linda May Han Oh DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/linda-may-han-oh/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/linda-may-han-oh.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260321T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260321T220000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T182455Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T134058Z UID:10000209-1774119600-1774130400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Laura Simone Quintet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/laura-simone-quintet/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/laura-simone.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260322T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260322T203000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T182633Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T173430Z UID:10000223-1774202400-1774211400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Sunny Wilkinson Trio DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/sunny-wilkinson-trio/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/sunny-wilkinson.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260325T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260325T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T183533Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T174023Z UID:10000225-1774465200-1774474200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Gwenyth Hayes Trio DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/gwenyth-hayes-trio/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/gwenyth-hayes.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260327T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260327T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T183857Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T174214Z UID:10000226-1774638000-1774647000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Sean Dobbins Organ Trio ft. Dana Badcock DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/sean-dobbins-4/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SeanDobbinsBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260328T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260328T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T184748Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T174826Z UID:10000227-1774724400-1774733400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Joan Belgrave DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/joan-belgrave/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Joan-Belgrave.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260329T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260329T203000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20251217T203525Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T174453Z UID:10000228-1774807200-1774816200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Paul Vornhagen Quartet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/paul-vornhagen-quartet-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_9662.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260401T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260401T213000 DTSTAMP:20260404T070735 CREATED:20260226T151621Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T184917Z UID:10000287-1775070000-1775079000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Big Tent ft. Wayne Gerard DESCRIPTION:Fri | Feb 27 \n\n \n \n Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\n \n \n\n\n \n \n Doors 5:30pm Show 7pm\nDoors 8:30pm Show 9pm\n$95 Dinner & Show\n$50 Cover Only \n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n About the Artist\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n LET THE SPIRIT OUT-Annual Black History Tour \nInternationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true "Renaissance Man\," with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. In his own words\, "The spirit of one's approach comes first before the technical. All the facility in the world with nothing that comes from the heart doesn't make good music. The basis of the strength of any artistic evolution has come from ethnicity." \nEven though he is fully grounded in the history and music of his African American community\, he has taken his studies deeper\, ingeniously incorporating African music and instrumentation\, producing a unique and wonderfully engaging sound. He credits his community with providing some direction towards African sensibility. "I grew up in a period when African Americans\, as a large body\, finally started addressing our roots. With African drums there was such an appeal in the way of playing with the hands and the sense of the entire body being involved in the playing of the instrument."  El'Zabar is an accomplished musician with mastery of a variety of instruments\, from the elementary - congas\, bongos\, African drums\, shekere\, gongs\, and trap drums - to the esoteric - balaphon\, marimba\, sanza\, kalimba and berimbau. \nMusic holds no boundaries for El'Zabar\, who has not only played alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderly\, but was in the bands of Stevie Wonder\, Nina Simone (who he also designed clothes for) and Paul Simon\, as well as recording with rock bands like Sonia Dada and Poi Dog Pondering and heading up the jazz/house outfit\, JUBA Collective. \nKahil El'Zabar was born in Chicago\, on November 11\, 1953. One of three children growing up in a South Side neighborhood where he heard music in the streets everyday - doo-wop\, r&b\, gospel\, blues and jazz. After attending Catholic schools in Chicago\, El'Zabar went to Kennedy-King College and later to Malcolm X and Lake Forest colleges. In 1973 while attending Lake Forest college\, El'Zabar was given the opportunity to study mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris\, but instead opted to use the money to attend the University of Ghana and study African music firsthand. \nAt the age of eighteen\, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians\, and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s\, El'Zabar formed his own musical group\, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble\, and later another group\, the Ritual Trio\, with both of which he still performs. His talents have also extended to the cinematic arena\, scoring and appearing in  three feature films - "Love Jones" (New Line)\, "Mo' Money" (Columbia Pictures) and "How U Like Me Now" (Universal Pictures)\, costarring in the feature film "Savannah"\, and starring in two independent films - "So Low But Not Alone\," and "The Last Set." El'Zabar was chosen to do the arranging for the stage performances of The Lion King\, he has published a book of poetry\, Mis'taken Brilliance and he tailors clothing both for his band and for others. From 1996 to 1999\, El'Zabar organized Traffic at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre\, an inter-arts program featuring music and poetry.  In 1991\, El'Zabar was commissioned by Germany's Leverkusen Jazz Festival to present a 20 year retrospective of his work\, which showcased Orchestra Infinity - a 25-piece big band formed several years ago. \nEl'Zabar has served as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been on the boards of several organizations\, including serving as the chairman of The Sun Drummer\, an African American drum society\, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, the National Task Force of Arts Presenting in Education\, Campaign for Freedom of Expression\, Forum for the Evolution of Progressive Arts\, Chicago Blues Museum and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. He has also served as a panelist for the NEA's Commissioning and Interdisciplinary Programs. His efforts as a musician\, educator\, and community leader led to his being named "Chicagoan of the year" in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. \nEl'Zabar lives in Chicago. He has six children. \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/big-tent-ft-wayne-gerard/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Wayne-Gerard-1.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR