The Continuum is an album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, a jazz band formed by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, who is joined by trombonist Joseph Bowie and two new members: saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, who replaces Ed Wilkerson, and percussionist 'Atu' Harold Murray. It was recorded in 1997 and released on Delmark.
| The Continuum | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Recorded | March 1 & 2, 1997 | |||
| Studio | Riverside Studio, Chicago | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 63:58 | |||
| Label | Delmark | |||
| Producer | Robert G. Koester, Steve Wagner | |||
| Kahil El'Zabar chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Down Beat | [2] |
In his review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos states "All the intensity of the EHE is here, but it has a quieter sonority, allowing more subtle shades to rise to the surface."[1]
The Down Beat review by Jon Andrews notes "Replacing Ed Wilkerson in the ensemble, Dawkins has a tough act to follow, but he succeeds, bringing a lighter, exuberant sound on tenor and alto saxophones."[2]
In a double review for JazzTimes John Murph says "The result is an amazing tribal jazz record that could rival any drum & bass track, hands down. Despite the smoother fluidity, The Continuum also amounts to one of the EHE's funkiest and most accessible offerings of recent times."[3]
Track listing
edit- All compositions by Kahil El'Zabar except as indicated
- "The Continuum" – 11:39
- "Well You Needn't" (Thelonious Monk) – 6:19
- "Ancestral Song" – 10:02
- "Ornette" – 11:47
- "From Whence We Came" – 8:39
- "Chatham Dirge" – 8:24
- "All Blues" (Miles Davis) – 7:08
Personnel
edit- Kahil El'Zabar – drums, percussion, African thumb piano, voice
- Joseph Bowie – trombone, percussion
- Ernest Dawkins – tenor sax, alto sax, percussion
- 'Atu' Harold Murray – percussion, voice on 1
References
edit- ^ a b Nastos, Michael G.. Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – The Continuum: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Andrews, John. The Continuum review. Down Beat March 98: page 55. Print.
- ^ Murph, John The Continuum review at JazzTimes