Percussionist Bill Summers uses Kwanzaa (which means "first" in Swahili), the African-American cultural and harvest festival celebrated from December 26 to January 1, as the theme for this array of tunes titled after Kwanzaa's seven guiding principals. There are also five tracks not titled after Kwanzaa: "Ghetto Get Up," "Did It Done It Wit It" (co-written by George Clinton), "Bahia Lady," "Yekola," and "Sure Wa." This is smooth, perky fusion with enough African rhythms to satisfy purists, and is perfect for unwinding and chilling. Vocalists (including Summers) play musical chairs, keeping it fresh until the last track. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
Essence of Kwanzaa
09/30/1997
All Music Guide Review
Essence of Kwanzaa Track Listing
Credits of Essence of Kwanzaa
- Phillip Manuel
- Vocals, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
- Carlos Martinez
- Performer
- Frank Quintini
- Executive Producer, Art Direction
- Daniel Ryman
- Producer, Engineer
- Michael Schlesinger
- Engineer
- Michael Shapiro
- Percussion
- Kenyatta Simon
- Performer
- Nick Smith
- Piano
- Bobby Strickland
- Saxophone
- Michael White
- Performer
- Don Wyatt
- Piano
- Susan Chatman
- Violin
- Brian Fleming
- Vocals (Background)
- Kevin Shapiro
- Vocals (Background)
- Yvette Summers
- Performer
- Samba Ngo
- Guitar, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Cynthia Dewberry
- Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
- Daryl Smith
- Performer
- Bruce Richardson
- Performer
- Henri Smith
- Performer
- Ron Cooper
- Performer
- Rhonda "Mama Efuru" Johnson
- Performer
- Michael Koschorreck
- Performer
- Michelle Noble
- Performer
- Robin Parson
- Performer
- Carol Pierre
- Performer
- Ebo Shakoor
- Performer
- Darnell Stephen Summers
- Performer
- Eric TI-I-Taming
- Performer
- Bill Summers
- Percussion, Conga, Drums, Horn, Keyboards, Programming, Engineer, Main Performer, Vocal Arrangement, Rhythm Arrangements
- Vinx
- Performer
- Ossie Davis
- Drums
- Sekou Bunch
- Bass
- Brenton Banks
- Viola
- Mark Cargill
- Violin
- Ronald Cooper
- Cello
- N'Dea Davenport
- Vocals, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
- Ray Fuller
- Guitar
- Lazaro Galarraga
- Vocals, Vocals (Background), Bata
- Ray Griffin
- Drums
- Richard Howell
- Vocals, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
- Michael Hunter
- Trumpet
- Huey Jackson
- Vocals
- Mingo Lewis
- Bass, Percussion, Drums, Vocals (Background)











Plus