'Kafari’ (he/him) is the alias of Portland, Maine based pianist, rhythm bones player, beatmaker, and teaching artist Ahmad Muhammad. Kafari's live performance synthesizes neoclassical piano music, experimental hip-hop and modal jazz, with influences that range from Dorothy Ashby, J Dilla, and Chopin, to old-time and bluegrass music through his love of the rhythm bones - an Irish percussion instrument popularized in America through blackface minstrelsy which he often distributes to and teaches his audiences. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kafari appeared weekly on Monday nights at The Jewel Box, where he hosted a live community event which featured his piano/bass renditions of songs requested by community members.