Mondo Jazz

R.I.P. IDRIS MUHAMMAD

Idris Muhammad (Arabic: إدريس محمد‎; born Leo Morris on 13 November 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died 29 July 2014[ was an American jazz drummer who has recorded extensively with a host of artists including Ahmad Jamal, Grant Green, Grover Washington, Hank Crawford, Gene Ammons, and Houston Person.

He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover Washington, Jr. He has been touring and recording with pianist Ahmad Jamal since 1995.

At 16 years old, one of Muhammad's earliest recorded sessions as a drummer was on Fats Domino's 1956 hit "Blueberry Hill". In 1966, he married Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (former member of the Crystals; she converted to Islam with him and went for a time under the name Sakinah Muhammad). They separated in 1999. Together, they have two sons and two daughters, and one daughter from a previous marriage to Gracie Lee Edwards-Morris. Muhammad is an endorser of Istanbul Agop Cymbals.

In 2012 Xlibris released the book Inside The Music: The Life of Idris Muhammad, which he wrote with his friend Britt Alexander. The book has been enthusiastically received by the music community and musicians hailed it as a great look into his legend.

Fonte: Wikipedia

Foto: Cees Van de Ven