Ebo Shakoor Biography

The American multi-instrumentalist (flute and percussion) and vocalist Ebo

Shakoor has always worked on several projects at the same time. These
include his own bands as well as concerts, tours and studio recordings with
fellow musicians by the names of Dizzy Gillespie,Max Roach, Don
Cherry and Gil Scott-Heron. With his latest group “Jazzicals”, he
interprets Jazz classics by converting them into wonderful soul ballads.

The fact that he is being

compared to the legendary flutist
Eric Dolphy quite often is not a
coincidence. Ebo’s flute play is
amazingly smooth, yet diverse
and his improvisations are
fascinating. Also as a
percussionist, he stands out with
all the experience he collected in
the U.S., Jamaica and Europe,
playing many different styles of
music from Jazz to Latin and
Funk.

As if all this wasn’t enough, Ebo

Shakoor is also an extraordinary
vocalist. His deep, full and warm
voice fits into any genre of “Black
music”. On a regular basis, he
tours with the famous Gospel
group “The Jackson Singers”.
With them as well as with his
own projects, he acts as a
featured front man, singer, flutist
and percussionist.

Also Ebo’s strong personality fascinates when he hits the stage. His gift of
being a great show person too has been noticed immediately by all
audiences he has played for. The Germany-based artist always has a
message for his listeners. He tells stories singing and playing his
instruments.

Ebo Shakoor was born in Washington D.C. in 50´s when Be-Bop was
fading out and Cool and Modern jazz was in, with a big influence of John
Coltrane Mile Davis and Ornette Coleman at home until the 60´s.

As a student of sociology, in 1972, Ebo intensified his flute playing. He

practiced 4 hours a day in between university classes. Several Funk-bands
hired him for concerts in the U.S. capital.
At the D.C.-Jazz club “Harold’s Roque & Jar” in the Dupont Circle area, he
became a frequent guest, performing and listening to stars such as
Shirley Horn, Marshall Hawkins (who later became the bass player for
Miles Davis .

In 1976, Ebo Shakoor left Washington D.C. for Nevada in order to pursue
his musical studies. At the University Of Nevada in Las Vegas, he studied
with Billy Byers, who is famous
for the arrangements he did for
Frank Sinatra and
QuincyJones. Later, Ebo went on
to California. He was seen and
heard on stage at the famous
“Keystone Corner” in San
Francisco in 1977. He usually
played with pianist George Cables

Looking back, Ebo says, “I wanted

to do something more challenging
and individualistic after doing Ragtime.” He hung out with students in
Berkley (California), getting back into percussion playing as well, while
meeting many fellow musicians.

Ebo Shakoor returned to Washington D.C. and got into the Free Jazz
scene. With Teddy Smith (who used to be the bassist with Horace Silver)
and other colleagues, he would soon tour the U.S. East Coast. Also Ebo
played with Max Roach the 1st jazz Master to recognize Ebo´s talent Don
Cherry invited him to play in his orchestre as well.

During a longer stay in Jamaica, Ebo explored African influences of

percussion more. “I was impressed by the Kunima and Nayibinge´the
sounds of the slaves in JAMAICA . It definitely influenced me. The spirit of
Africa could be felt much stronger in Jamaica than in the U.S.”.

Back in Washington D.C. he finally met Dizzy Gillespie while performing

at the “Blues Alley”. At the same time, Ebo Shakoor started thinking
about exploring the European Jazz culture. He spoke to many fellow
musicians who told him that Jazz and musical individuality was
appreciated more overseas. So he arrived in Frankfurt in 1981, where he
immediately started playing at famous clubs such as the “Jazzkeller”.

From Germany, he went on to The Hague in order to check out the “North
Sea Jazz Festival”. This is where Ebo met many old friends from the
U.S., including Shirley Horn and Dizzy Gillespie.To perfrom withThe
greatest Jazz legends in front of 5,000 people. After a breakfast with
Sarah Vaughan and other legends, Ebo returned to Germany, where he
was asked to join “El Duo Flamenco” for a European tour, which he did
several times.

Back in the U.S., Ebo played for the Premier of China, Zhu Rongii during
a celebration with San Francisco’s mayor Dianne Feinstein at city hall.
Shortly after, he won The Gold Award for his soundtrack for the
documentary the Hopi ´´People
of Peace´´in 85
In 1989, Ebo . “This was a wake-up call for me”, Ebo says today. “It was
time to get out of there and find my direction a little bit more”. Again, Ebo
travelled to Europe.

In Frankfurt, he played
in Drum’N’Bass D.j.´s
and Funk bands and
Jazz combos. At the
“Expo” in Sevilla
(Spain), he played for
the German pavilion.
In 1992, Ebo Shakoor
met the road manager
for the Blues/Funk
legend Gil Scott-
Heron. He was hired
immediately. Several
long tours throughout
Europe followed. With
Gil’s band, Ebo hit
countless stages in
Paris, London (Jazz Café), Oxford, Glasgow, Berne, Zurich, Barcelona,
Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich and many other cities.

After those tours, Ebo started composing more. He had many ideas and
recorded CDs with his different projects. Ebo says: “In 2002 I thought
about different ways to write songs which would express all the
experiences which I had in the past 20 years”. That’s how his brilliant
project Jazzicals was born.

“Culture Shock” a montage of sound that reflect the global influence of

music in his life. From jazz to worldbeat to blues to hip-hop, Shakoor has
such a talent to talk to the people in their musical language.

“Spirits of the rainbow” is more the esoteric approach to sound and

color that Ebo has been involve with for over 25 years. As a member of the
Rosacrucian A.M.O.R.C. and the International Theosophical Society, he has
collaborate with yoga meditation and others that share his view that Music
has a healing power for our mind, body and soul. Workshops and concerts
are available.

“Ebo and the Drums of Africa” is power and grace that captivate the
audience with songs and chats that calls out that primal state that dwell
within us all. After the meeting and performing with Babatunji Olatunji,
the Master from Nigeria who came to America in the 50’s influence the
modern jazz greats like John Coltrane.
Ebo’s passion for percussion and featuring African musicians that share his
love for the Drums of Africa.

Multi-talent Ebo Shakoor and his breathtaking project “Jazzicals” can be

booked now.