The Ethnics is the new project of Kahil El'Zabar and Ernest Dawkins, two legendary jazz musicians from Chicago, who have been together for a long time, since forming Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Internationally renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El'Zabar is considered one of the most prolific jazz innovators of his generation. Indeed El'Zabar is a true „Renaissance Man“ with a musical style and content that flows from ancient Africa to the modern world. Born in Chicago, in 1953, at the age of eighteen, he joined Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), and by 1975 he was chairman of the organization. During the early 1970s, El'Zabar formed Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, and later another group, the Ritual Trio, with both of which he still performs. Kahil performed with Hamiet Bluiett, Billy Bang, Malachi Favors, David Murray, Pharoah Sanders, Ed Wilkerson, Archie Shepp, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly…As the leader of his New Horizons Ensemble (formed in 1979), saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, born in 1953, has performed music ranging from bop to free form, occasionally displaying its links to the past while definitely looking ahead. Dawkins has worked with music greats which include: Ramsey Lewis, Muhal Richard Abrams, Lester Bowie, Ed Wilkerson, Henry Threadgill, Amina Claudine Myers, Anthony Braxton, Jack McDuff, Don Moye… In The Ethnics (that, among others, includes the new great jazz trumpet player, Corey Wilkes and features the legendary singer Nona Hendryx of LaBelle fame) the visions of El'Zabar and Dawkins go further – with an original fusion of soul, funk, jazz and avant-house music. (Pressetext)