El Zabar’s, Kahil Infinity Orchestra – “Transmigration ” – [Delmark]

Recorded in Bordeaux, France where El’Zabar is artist in
residence and teaches 2 months a year. This 39-piece big
band has lots of energy, playing against solos on percussion,
reeds, balafon, turntables. Has influences of hip-hop,
American jazz, African music and instruments. (El’Zabar
notes that the origins of French jazz comes from
African-American World War I soldiers who stayed in France.)
Big bands can be heavy and stodgy — not this!! Very cool.

Vocals on track 3, Transmigration, more dreamy than the other tracks. Also, some laughter and other audience noise on some tracks. Some English, some French is spoken.