by SCOTT C

Master percussionist Kahil El'Zabar is no stranger to Montreal. For the last four years, this Chicago-based artist has arrived in our fair city for a show in February to celebrate Black History Month. As leader of the legendary Chicago jazz outfit the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble,

El'Zabar has been splitting his time between numerous live appearances, recording his latest musical epic and an interesting remix project with some of today's visionary producers.

"Josh Deep of Deeper Soul Recordings in Chicago came to me about a year ago," explains El'Zabar, "and he told me that he had been playing my music to other DJs and producers, who were interested in remixing the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. These are people who thought that our music was relevant to the direction that their music was going in, so he started playing me their stuff."

You may have heard "Running in the Streets," retouched by Charles Webster, or "Ancestral Song," which has been enjoying extensive plays around the world, thanks to tight remixes by Osunlade and Kemit Sources. Upcoming EHE 12-inch remixes include work from West London don I.G. Culture, Djinji Brown and Henrik Schwarz. "I've always liked hearing different shit, but I like people who have concepts. There are a lot of really great players and great producers, but what really makes the voice is your concept. It's all in your approach to organizing music into a structure that represents your voice."

El'Zabar spent many months in Bordeaux, France, last year, developing his voice while working on "Nu Art Claiming Earth," a huge work in progress commissioned by the French cultural ministry, featuring the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and 50 French musicians. Not too shabby at all, especially at a time when American relations with France were laughable at best.

It's El'Zabar's involvement in these and numerous other projects that led him to be named Chicagoan of the year in 2004 by the Chicago Tribune. "I love Chicago, and I appreciate wherever the love is coming from. I love Montreal, too!"

With Osunlade and Josh Deep at Main Hall
on Sunday, Feb. 20, 9 p.m., $15

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