Saturday, March 28th 10am ET/4pm CET on The Cologne Affair: Kahil El’Zabar has long shared a special connection with Cologne. Since first arriving in 1979 with his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, he has returned time and again, offering audiences a warm, almost spiritual embrace through his music—where African rhythms meet modern jazz.

Rooted in Chicago’s avant-garde scene and shaped by his work with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, his performances weave together chanting, storytelling, and global percussion into something deeply human and connective.

After a packed night at Jaki Club/Stadtgarten, El’Zabar sat down with The Cologne Affair host Jan Lankisch to reflect on the sounds and ideas that continue to guide his journey.