''Spirits Entering'' is an album by percussionist
Kahil El'Zabar
Kahil El'Zabar (born Clifton Blackburn; November 11, 1953) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist (mainly a Percussion instrument, percussionist) and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records.
Life and work
El'Zabar was born in Chica ...
and violinist
Billy Bang
Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Biography
Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
. It was recorded during May 1998 at Riverside Studio in Chicago, and was released in 2001 by
Delmark Records
Delmark Records is an American jazz and blues independent record label. It was founded in 1958 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when then owner, and founder, Bob Koester released a recordi ...
.
Reception
In a review for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
, Alex Henderson wrote that El'Zabar and Bang "enjoy a strong rapport and bring out the best in one another," and commented: "the musicians favor an inside/outside approach and provide an album that is left of center but still quite musical... Those who have enjoyed El'Zabar's work with the Ritual Trio and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble will also find a great deal to admire about ''Spirits Entering''."
The authors of ''
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled by ...
'' stated that the album "has some splendid music, though it's compromised a little by the dry and thin tone the violinist gets. El'Zabar makes enough noise to drown him out at times, but in the more mellifluous passages it's a fine match."
Critic
Tom Hull noted that El'Zabar's "everyday-from-everywhere beats form a fascinating backdrop" for Bang, who has "rarely enjoyed so much space, and responds with touching eloquence."
John Litweiler of ''
JazzTimes
''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store.
Coverage
After a decade of growth ...
'' remarked: "once you adjust to the unusual instrumentation, the music proves engaging, often charming and clever... Much of this album's variety results from the songs
l'Zabarcomposed and from his playing with or against Bang; these two musicians have a pleasing give-and-take."
Writing for ''
All About Jazz
''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...
'', Bernie Koenig called the album "highly recommended," and a "truly great example of what a duo is all about," and stated that the musicians "create incredible moods and, on any and all levels, incredible music." ''AAJs Derek Taylor commented: "while some of material may seem familiar the stripped down improvisatory setting and the fertile ingenuity of the two men make the session seem fresh." Another ''AAJ'' reviewer remarked: "having played together off and on for 25 years, these two musicians have come to develop an intuitive sense for each other's ideas and feelings. They play as ''one'' to make possible a ritual music with deep musical and extra-musical consequences."
In an article for ''One Final Note'', Scott Hreha wrote: "even if the percussionist's penchant for revisiting some of his tried and true compositions dilutes a degree of spontaneity from the disc's overall impact, the stripped-down violin/drums format more than makes up for the lack of surprise in the sheer ingenuity with which Bang and El'Zabar pull it off."
Track listing
# "Spirits Entering" (Bang) – 9:06
# "Was Now" (El'Zabar) – 4:11
# "Sweet Irene" (Bang) – 6:32
# "Love Outside of Dreams" (El'Zabar) – 7:32
# "The Dream Merchant" (El'Zabar) – 5:06
# "Song of Myself" (El'Zabar) – 7:36
# "The Ituri Fantasy" (El'Zabar) – 4:30
# "
Old-Time Religion
("Give Me That") "Old-Time Religion" (and similar spellings) is a traditional Gospel song dating from 1873, when it was included in a list of Jubilee songs—or earlier. It has become a standard in many Protestant hymnals, though it says nothing a ...
" (traditional) – 8:35
# "Golden Sea" (El'Zabar) – 6:11
Personnel
*
Kahil El'Zabar
Kahil El'Zabar (born Clifton Blackburn; November 11, 1953) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist (mainly a Percussion instrument, percussionist) and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records.
Life and work
El'Zabar was born in Chica ...
– drums, percussion, berimbau, kalimba
*
Billy Bang
Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Biography
Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
– violin
References
{{Reflist
2001 albums
Kahil El'Zabar albums
Billy Bang albums
Delmark Records albums