Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Hot n Heavy '2008

Tracks list

Delmark Records continues to produce some memorable jazz DVDs and Ethnic
Heritage Ensembles HotNHeavy—Live at the Ascension Loft is no exception.
From the first few sounds and frames of the video, one dynamic image absorbs the
viewer: the groups leader, percussionist Kahil ElZabar, has more energy in his
fingertips than most of us have in our entire bodies.

This live recording of the EHE quartet captured in Chicago at the Ascension Loft
(a community of artists and musicians) features, besides ElZabar, trumpeter
Corey Wilkes, saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, and guitarist Fareed Haque.
Electricity pours out from the band to the sparse and appreciative audience, and
is captured vividly onto video. In fact, visually the musicians are in striking
contrast to a stereotypical jazz band (cool personae, suits, and darkly lit
bandstands). The EHE players are sweating and playing their (body parts) off, in
a hot and humid loft (ElZabar jokes about it his commentary), giving it all they
have. Its a treat to witness music that is passionate—performed,
moreover, with an unflinching spirit.

ElZabars thunderous earth drum proves that no stringed bass instrument is needed
as the drums booming is the heartbeat of the African rhythmic groove heard on
Major to Minor. The rhythm of the percussion is accentuated by a funky guitar
riff and developed in synth-trumpet solo by Wilkes before it culminates with
ElZabar literally turning up the heat with a fiery earth drum solo accompanied
by guttural chants both indigenous and foreign.

Next is MT, a movingly soulful number dedicated to the late esteemed trumpeter
Malachi Thompson. This piece, like the others, contains a heartbeat that is
carried by a single percussion instruments chord. In this case the pulse is
carried by ElZabars thumb piano pattern, as musicians add to its life with solos
(notice the superimposed video footage of Thompson soloing along with Wilkes).

Getting the chance to witness these musicians make music together is fun, but
individual moments also stand out, such as Wilkes playing two horns at once
(Rahsaan Roland Kirk style) on the smoking piece Hot N heavy, which also
features ElZabar on a standard kit and Dawkins delivering a tense and abstract
sax solo. Haques muted, then openly projected classical guitar playing is
mesmerizing on the peaceful, trance- inducing There is a Place. The performance
comes full circle as ElZabars hypnotic earth drum provides a dark and haunting
curtain with the Afro-Latin rhythm of Black as Vera Cruz.

The sound is excellent with a variety of Surround Sound options. The video is
good with a minor quibble about excessive artistic liberties (montage images of
the musicians and splashes of color) in some sections. But by no means does this
small detail detract from a highly rewarding experience.

01. Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Major To Minor (15:25)
02. Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - MT (13:06)
03. Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Hot N Heavy (10:34)
04. Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - There Is A Place (14:51)
05. Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Black As Vera Cruz (15:28)

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