Nazir Ebo Jazz Group at Jazz Nights! at James A. Michener Art Museum

Ten-year-old Nazir Ebo started playing his brother’s drums when he was 5. Last year, filmmaker Ken Burns selected the fifth-grader for a jazz program. Since then he has performed at the Philadelphia Clef Club, fundraising parties for WHYY, Philadelphia’ West Oak Lane Jazz Festival, Chris’ Jazz Café, Friends Select School in Germantown, the Firehouse Café in Mount Holly, N.J., and the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance.

Nazir Ebo – the name comes from his African grandparents’ tribe – grew up surrounded by music. His mother, Carol Faulkner, is a classically trained pianist and his older brother, Justin Faulkner, toured with Branford Marsalis during his senior year of high school. ...

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Ten-year-old Nazir Ebo started playing his brother’s drums when he was 5. Last year, filmmaker Ken Burns selected the fifth-grader for a jazz program. Since then he has performed at the Philadelphia Clef Club, fundraising parties for WHYY, Philadelphia’ West Oak Lane Jazz Festival, Chris’ Jazz Café, Friends Select School in Germantown, the Firehouse Café in Mount Holly, N.J., and the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance.

Nazir Ebo – the name comes from his African grandparents’ tribe – grew up surrounded by music. His mother, Carol Faulkner, is a classically trained pianist and his older brother, Justin Faulkner, toured with Branford Marsalis during his senior year of high school.

Young Nazir begins his day with a prayer, a healthy breakfast and a few laughs with his mom, then it’s off to Hamilton Elementary School. When he comes home he changes his clothes and practices for an hour before homework. Later, he’s allowed to play music until 8 p.m. – he also plays piano, trumpet and trombone –then it’s bath time and in bed by 8:30 p.m.

“The baby-faced Ebo, who has not even reached the five-foot mark yet, (is) astounding on the drums,” writes Wade Luquet on All About Jazz. “Young Ebo will be one to watch in the future, as will the others in the group who will no doubt carry jazz into its future.”

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