Spiritual jazz legend and multi-percussionist Kahil El’Zabar teams up again with longtime collaborator and tenor saxophone great David Murray on a brilliant new recording on Spiritmuse Records, titled Spirit Groove.

This incredible seven-track album is a modern day spiritual jazz masterpiece, and captures a similar vibe that was found on Kahil El’Zabar’s previous recording Be Known: Ancient/ Future/ Music (also released on Spiritmuse Records) with his group Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. In his own words, El’Zabar states Spirit Groove “intends to move you nakedly with a deep sense of dance on a Mind/Body/Spirit level.” The music on this album absolutely succeeds in those intentions, blending together El’Zabar’s hypnotic percussion rhythms and chanting vocals, with Murray’s soaring saxophone solos and melodies. The session also features a nice mixture of spacey synth, piano, and soulful organ lines from Justin Dillard, and solid bass grooves from Emma Dayhuff.

Even though this session was recorded a year ago in Chicago, this soul healing music seems to be needed now more than ever. Kahil El’Zabar and David Murray have come together and truly produced a phenomenal album that is up there with just about any other recording that has been released this year. Highly recommended!

Kahil El’Zabar — ‘Spirit Groove’ ft. David Murray
(Spiritmuse Records)

1. In My House
2. Necktar
3. Songs of Myself
4. Katon
5. In The Spirit
6. Trane In Mind
7. One World Family

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