★Katalyst Entertainment
The Ancestors Are Amongst Us
2024 stock. Recorded live at Jazzfestival Saafelden August 28th 1987. This trio live performance, with the great Lester Bowie on trumpet, and the great Malachi Favors on bass is a must for all fans. Kahil El'Zabar is the real great of tribal rhythms, creating very long hypnotic foundations for the soloists to improvise freely, spiritually, bluesy. Lester Bowie is of course a master at all that : he sings, wails, growls, weeps, stutters, moans, farts, ... he can build tension, he can build stori…
Twilight Dreams
Recorded at Rawlston Recording Studios, Brooklyn, New York during April 1987 Compact disc pre-mastered at Tape One Studios, London
Radio Over Miles
What would it sound like if Miles Davis and Radiohead had a baby? Released February 5, 2010. Greg Spero - keyboards Corey Wilkes - trumpet Makaya McCraven - drums Junius Paul - bass uartet – Radio Over Miles
For Bobo (Oscar Brown III)
Recorded in October 1997.
Homecoming
As in Benjamin Jephta words: ss musicians coming from different training institutions, we are taught a variety of concepts and are exposed to various styles and genres of music. We are taught what is ‘hip’ and what is not. I assimilated what was trendy and emulated the people I looked up to. In the processes, I lost track of the real spirit of my music. The reason I play music, the essence of what first inspired me to compose a melody. It’s that spirit I wanted to capture by calling this album ‘…
Never Let Me Go
"Never Let Me Go" is the follow up to Tammy McCann's Katalyst debut "Classic." Produced by the legendary Henry Johnson, who has worked with Nancy Wilson and Joe Williams, among others, this is a vocal masterpiece that explores new approaches to standards while remaining traditionally creative with new material and songs that were not really considered jazz until now. With a selection of powerhouse musicians in Chicago (Ari Brown, Harrison Bankhead, Ernie Adams, Mike Logan, and Henry Johnson hims…
Alika Rising!
Alika Rising is a precious, 1989 recording from what may not necessarily be the “best” version of Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio, if such a thing could be said to exist. This is, after all, art. Yet, this may be the most iconic, or at least formative version. Kahil, with Ari Brown and the late, great Malachi Favors. Over 50 minutes, for three extended improvisations in which the artists with deep understandings of each other reached for that moment. That transcendent moment in which all three find…
Meditation
Kelan Phil Cohran's ('Kelan' is an honorific meaning 'holy scripture' bestowed on him by Chinese Muslims during a visit to China) Meditation was recorded at Atiba Johnson's Chicago studio in 1996, but has circulated only privately until now, with its long-awaited official release on Katalyst. And in waiting for it to arrive, we have perhaps been given what we need to appreciate it as it unfolds. The two players on the session are Kelan Phil Cohran (harp, frankiphone, cornet, zither) and Malik Co…
Post Modern Trap Music
Avery, currently head of Jazz Studies at the California State University Dominguez Hills, has played with everyone from Art Farmer, Hank Jones, Roy Ayers and Roy Hargrove to Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse. Post Modern Trap Music is a collaboration with drummer Marvin "Bugalu" Smith (Sun Ra, Archie Shepp, Chet Baker) in the spirit of duo albums of the 1960’s and 70’s such as John Coltrane’s Interstellar Space and Frank Lowe & Rashied Ali’s Duo Exchange
Mama's House Live- 35th Anniversary Project
This is a recording of a live February 2006 performance by the Chicago-based Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (EHE). To say that this band, who through 35 years has had many incarnations, is tied to anything earthly is a misstatement, however. Ever since Kahil El'Zabar returned to Chicago from Ghana and formed the band whose intention was to combine African American music with traditional African music, the EHE has sought to transcend walls that would box music in. Joining the multi-percussionist, vocal…
Cosmic
Cosmic is the long awaited recording by Dwight Trible, one of the most prolific vocalists of the time. This recording is the follow up to his critically acclaimed Living Water which made a big impression throughout the world. On Cosmic, Dwight brings an A-list cast of characters to bring forth his his heartfelt expressions of love for human kind and for love itself. Musicians like Grammy nominee John Beasley and long time collaborator Munyungo Jackson help create the Cosmic landscape. Also noted…
The Solo Concert
Presented here are parts from three solo concerts from the early 1970s. Roscoe Mitchell plays soprano, alto, tenor, and bass saxophones. One of the tracks on this LP reissue includes an early version of 'Noonah,' a composition that many of his followers will recognize. Originally released on Sackville recordings in 1974 as The Roscoe Mitchell Solo Saxophone Concerts, this historical reissue has been remastered and contains the same material as the original, which is primarily solo concerts from …
Fundamental Destiny
Katalyst presents Fundamental Destiny by the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Live at the Frankfurt, Germany Jazz Festival with Don Pullen. Now, the production team at AECO has once more gone through the archives and come up with another gem, culminating in the recent release of Fundamental Destiny, a record of a live 1991 Art Ensemble concert given in early June of that year at the Frankfurt, Germany Jazz Festival. All the members of the ensemble are present: Lester Bowie on trumpet, Joseph Jarman on w…
Kabalaba
Katalyst Entertainment presents Kabalaba, a live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1974 and originally released on their AECO label in 1978. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, and Don Moye along with Muhal Richard Abrams.
Armageddon
Yet another masterpiece from the archives of Phil Cohran. Armageddon was conceived in 1958 and written down in 1963. After performing with Sun Ra and benefiting from the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Phil Cohran's compositions changed decidedly, and he began to focus on cosmology and culture. This particular performance was recorded live at the Afro Arts Theater at 3900 S. Drexel in Chicago on February 11th, 1968. It has never been released and practically unheard in over 40 years.…
The Spanish Suite
"The Spanish Suite was written to magnify the contribution that Moorish Spain made on the European Renaissance. The relationship of music to cosmic rhythms and harmony was altered from the original state of Spanish music and eventually distorted down to the 12 tone equi-temperment system of tuning. The Artistic Heritage Ensemble was taught to play outside of the 12-tone system and to recognize natural tone relationships. The musicians had to be dedicated to music for life in order to reac…
The Malcolm X Memorial
A live performance recorded on February 25, 1968 at the Affro-Arts Theater, a cultural center in Chicago operated by Philip Cohran from 1967-1970. This concert was a tribute to the late Malcolm X in the form of a suite of 4 tracks, each capturing a period of his life, 'Malcolm Little,' 'Detroit Red,' 'Malcolm X,' and 'El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.' The personnel and instrumentation are almost identical to Cohran's 'On the Beach' session. This historic and mesmerizing concert was originally an LP iss…
On The Beach
A re-reissue of this classic recording of Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble. This record has only been previously available in limited quantities and is back in print now due to the collaborative efforts of Kelan Zulu productions and Katalyst Entertainment. This historic recording is the definitive representation of one of the most significant groups of this era in jazz history. With several legendary musicians including guitarist Pete Cosey, percussionist Henry Gibson, Louis Satt…