ka safar: ancient tribal hearts
Francisco Espregueira
Hailing from the region of Cantabria, in Northern Spain, 2 Headed Deer is a quality-over-quantity label showcasing their 4th release. Ancient Tribal Hearts by Ka Safar, a 13-piece world jazz band based in Leicester, is a sonic feast that blends multiple genres and cultural references. With compositions and direction by bandleader Lee Boyd Allatson, improvisation is core to the group’s aesthetic whilst drawing on inspiration from free jazz, Afrofuturism, ancient Greek and Roman musics, Latin American styles, funk, Indian and Japanese influences.
The name Ka Safar comes from two origins: ‘Ka’ is the ancient Egyptian God of ‘the vital spark of the spirit’ and ‘Safar’ is Arabic for ‘journey’. Ancient Tribal Hearts is a special album, maximizing the beautiful textures attained by the band and enriching every moment with a subtle energy that is so well expressed. Travelling from Africa’s deserts to Amazonian jungles, the performance of Ka Safar is full of life, transporting us to a live experience of theatrical outfits, psychedelic lighting and dance to augment the music. The narrative sets a particular tone, reminiscent of old Greek theatres, with a mystic message of inclusivity, spiritualism, love and humanity. Available on vinyl, Ancient Tribal Hearts is a collection item to revisit frequently, courtesy of 2 Headed Deer.
All music arranged, directed and recorded by Lee Boyd Allatson.
Performed by Ka Safar:
LBA (drum set), Mellow Baku (vocals), Kulvir Bhambra (percussion), Miranda Booth (harp), Tony Booth (narrator), Benjamin Dady (sax), Satya-Sara Khachik (dance), Tony Looby (flute), Fino Lopes (bass), Jonathan Read (flugel horn/trumpet), Gary Reader (sax), Alan Tang (violin) and Hari Trivedi (tabla).