DETROIT, MI – THE N’NAMDI CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART will feature a jazz performance by trio Kahil El’Zabar, Ernest Khabeer Dawkins, and Corey Wilkes on Tuesday, February 28^th, 2012. Boasting an impressive repertoire, the band’s members have rubbed shoulders and collaborated with greats like Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly, and Stevie Wonder.  The 36 year old ensemble comes to Detroit following a performance at the House of Blues, Chicago.  Tickets are $10 in advance, and $12 at the door.

Member Kahil El’Zabar formed Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in 1976 and the group has remained active ever since with varying lineups. The band’s music is a free-spirited jazz incorporating vocals, different kinds of African percussion, sax, trumpet, and guitar. The performance will feature El’Zabar on percussion and vocals, Ernest Khabeer Dawkins on reeds, and Corey Wilkes on trumpet. 

The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble was formed shortly after percussionist Kahil El'Zabar graduated from the school of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians in 1976. He teamed up with tenor saxophonist Edward Wilkerson, Jr. to play music that combined contemporary African American musical styles, like jazz, with more traditional African instrumentation and rhythms. The duo would frequently grow to a trio in these first years, adding musicians like saxophonist Light Henry Huff and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre. In 1988, they added trombonist and conga player Joseph Bowie, who is the leader of the jazz-funk group Defunkt.  In 1997, Wilkerson was replaced by Ernest "Khabeer" Dawkins who is the leader of New Horizons Ensemble.

The event will be hosted by famed Detroiter, poet Jessica Care Moore.

Doors open at 6pm

Performance starts at 7pm

Advance purchase tickeholders will have seats reserved for them until 6:45

$10 Advance ticket

$15 At door