Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Gathering Spirit

Contributed

With spiritualism as its mortar, the Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, splices elements of contemporary African-American music - namely jazz - with traditional African music into a mesmerizing aural mosaic.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

Just like Artlore Studio before it, City Gallery has quickly established itself as a showcase for the mosaic. 

On the one hand, there's co-owner Lena Logvina's eye-catching mosaic artwork, piecing together individual pieces of glass, ceramic, and stone to create a holistic scene. On the other hand, there's the ear-catching aural mosaics that have been provided and presented through her musician husband Stephen Trohoske's involvement in the jam and jazz universe. 

Trohoske's collaborations and connections have brought some impressive talents into Erie over the years — and arguably the most prominent of those has been the prolific percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar. 

A native of Chicago, El'Zabar is founder of the trailblazing Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, known for its ability to splice elements of contemporary African-American music (namely jazz) with traditional African music into one mesmerizing whole — with soul being the mortar. 

The ensemble's upcoming 14th album Spirit Gatherer: A Tribute to Don Cherry pays homage to a kindred spirit in the late jazz trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Don Cherry, who stood at the vanguard of jazz avant-garde as a member of the Ornette Coleman Group. Featuring contributions from LA-based vocalist Dwight Trible and Cherry's eldest (and recently departed) son, David Ornette Cherry, the record is slated for a March 10 release. 

On Sunday, Feb. 5, Erieites will have another amazing opportunity to be transported by this expressively expansive trio, which includes Corey Wilkes (trumpet, spirit bowls, percussion) and Alex Harding (baritone saxophone) in addition to El'Zabar. 

Listen closely and your soul, too, may discover unity in the disparate. 

4 to 6 p.m. // City Gallery, 1503 State St. // $25 // facebook.com/citygalleryerie