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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251226T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251226T183000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251117T175520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T175520Z
UID:10000186-1766768400-1766773800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Swing Happy Hour: Dawn Giblin 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/swing-happy-hour-dawn-giblin-quintet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dawn-Giblin.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251226T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251226T220000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251001T163122Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T210615Z
UID:10000152-1766775600-1766786400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Sean Dobbins Soulful Holiday Show
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-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SeanDobbinsBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251227T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251227T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251001T163924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T160721Z
UID:10000153-1766860200-1766871000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Ralphe Armstrong 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/ralphe-armstrong-trio/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ralphe-Armstrong.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251227T221500
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251227T231500
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251028T172311Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T161241Z
UID:10000163-1766873700-1766877300@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Late Night: Bunkerman
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/bunkerman/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BunkermanBNW.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251228T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251228T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251001T164928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T181337Z
UID:10000154-1766944800-1766953800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Brandon Rose & Soul Therapy
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/brandon-rose-soul-therapy/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/brandon-rose.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251231T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251231T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251029T224259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T203719Z
UID:10000141-1767207600-1767211200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Early NYE with Paul Keller 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/paul-keller-quintet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/paul-keller.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251231T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251231T235900
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251029T224200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T165048Z
UID:10000140-1767214800-1767225540@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:New Year's Eve with Thornetta Davis
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-years-eve-with-thornetta-davis/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/thornetta-davis.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260107T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260107T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T214135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T214135Z
UID:10000177-1767812400-1767821400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Arnold/Jassi/Kramer: World Transcendence
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/arnold-jassi-kramer/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ArnoldJassiKramerBNW.png.jpg-sqLg-1.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260108T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260108T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T214257Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T161828Z
UID:10000178-1767898800-1767907800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Signal 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/signal-quartet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/signal-quartet.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260109T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260109T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251009T135227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260102T172100Z
UID:10000156-1767983400-1767994200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Don Was and the Pan-Detroit 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/don-was-and-the-pan-detroit-ensemble-1/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Don-Was.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260110T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260110T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251009T135340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T173153Z
UID:10000157-1768069800-1768080600@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Don Was and the Pan-Detroit 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/don-was-and-the-pan-detroit-ensemble-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Don-Was.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260111T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260111T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251124T202004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T202004Z
UID:10000192-1768154400-1768163400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:The Triumvirate
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/the-triumvirate-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_4707.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260114T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251201T161642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T172714Z
UID:10000195-1768417200-1768426200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Alain Sullivan's SoulHeart Collective
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/alain-sullivans-soulheart-collective/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AlainSullivanBNW.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260115T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260115T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T214648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T211337Z
UID:10000180-1768503600-1768512600@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Jonathan Barahal Taylor 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/jonathan-barahal-taylor-quartet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/jonathon-barahal.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T180000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251124T201328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T201328Z
UID:10000190-1768579200-1768586400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:WEMU 5:01 Jazz Series: Rick Roe
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/wemu-501-jazz-series-rick-roe/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/rick-roe.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T220000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251124T201709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T182536Z
UID:10000191-1768590000-1768600800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Shahida Nurullah & Good Company
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/shahida-nurullah-good-company/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/shahida-nurullah.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260117T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260117T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T214809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T154442Z
UID:10000181-1768674600-1768685400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Sean Dobbins Organ 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/sean-dobbins-2-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SeanDobbinsBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260118T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260118T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T214940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T214940Z
UID:10000167-1768759200-1768768200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Sarah D'Angelo & Cliff Monear
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/sarah-dangelo-cliff-monear-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CliffMonearCliffMonear.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260121T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251203T164517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T193809Z
UID:10000210-1769022000-1769031000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Tumbao Bravo
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/tumbao-bravo-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumbao-bravo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260122T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T215137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T172902Z
UID:10000187-1769108400-1769117400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Max Bowen Special 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/max-bowen-special-quintet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MaxBowenBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260123T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260123T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T215253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T173400Z
UID:10000188-1769194800-1769203800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Ona ft. Gayelynn McKinney\, Laura-Simone & Redwood
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/ona/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GayelynnMcKinneyBNW_copy.png.jpg-sqLg.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260124T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260124T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T215417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T173719Z
UID:10000182-1769281200-1769290200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Nick Collins Sextet
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/nick-collins-sextet-5/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/nick-collins.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260125T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260125T220000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251205T185402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T184950Z
UID:10000175-1769362200-1769378400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Hamilton de Holanda
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/hamilton-de-holanda/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/hamilton-de-holanda.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260128T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260128T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251128T221137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T163456Z
UID:10000189-1769626800-1769635800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Elvin Sharp 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/elvin-sharp-quartet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/elvin-sharp.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260129T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T215546Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T185142Z
UID:10000183-1769713200-1769722200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Aya Sekine 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/aya-sekine-trio/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Aya-Sekine-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T183000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251124T212552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T163624Z
UID:10000184-1769788800-1769797800@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-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kerrytown-stompers.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T215720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T163716Z
UID:10000185-1769799600-1769808600@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Dwight Adams 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/dwight-adams-quartet/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/dwight-adams.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260131T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260131T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251120T215809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T163825Z
UID:10000169-1769886000-1769895000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Russ Macklem Detroit 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/russ-macklem-detroit-quintet-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RussMacklemCOLOR-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260201T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260201T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20251215T184620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T163939Z
UID:10000212-1769968800-1769977800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Sandra Bomar 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/sandra-bomar/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SandraBomarBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260204T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260204T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053553
CREATED:20260105T183803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T154429Z
UID:10000233-1770231600-1770240600@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Jauron Perry 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
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