What It Is!

A second-generation Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians member, drummer/percussionist Kahil El’Zabar is now pushing 60 and has a whole generation of younger guys behind him. Here in combination with saxophonist Kevin Nabors, keyboardist Justin Dillard, and bassist Junius Paul, the four explore an organic, groove-based jazz that focuses more on playing off of one another than tricky compositional gambits. Also an excellent hand drummer, El’Zabar highlights the instrument on the title track and “Central Park West,” which is one of two John Coltrane compositions included here. While many of El’Zabar’s fans are used to hearing him in acoustic settings, the addition of Dillard (who mostly focuses on B3 organ) shows a different side of the drummer/leader, perhaps even channeling a bit of Larry Young or Alice Coltrane in the process. Other highlights include “Kari,” where Dillard switches to piano and the quartet travels in the same galaxy as mid-‘60s Coltrane, and the lovely “From the Heart,” which features El’Zabar on thumb piano.