Idris Muhammad ( ar, إدريس محمد; born Leo Morris; November 13, 1939 – July 29, 2014) was an American
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '':wikt:soul, soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The ea ...
13th Ward in a home next door to a dry cleaner’s shop. He later would claim the sound of the shop’s steam presser influenced his hi-hat technique.
Growing up, he spent time with fellow New Orleanians The Neville Brothers. Also interested in other instruments, he showed early talent as a percussionist, playing in a
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "F ...
parade at age 9.
Muhammad asked Paul Barbarin to teach him to read music but Barbarin, who thought he was already so talented, declined.
At the age of 14, Muhammad began his professional career by performing with The Hawketts on their iconic recording “ Mardi Gras Mambo”. Two years later, in 1956, he played drums on Fats Domino's recording of "
Blueberry Hill
"Blueberry Hill" is a popular American song published in 1940, best remembered for its 1950s rock and roll version by Fats Domino. The music was written by Vincent Rose, the lyrics by Larry Stock and Al Lewis. It was recorded six times in ...
".
After being introduced by Joe Jones, Muhammad began touring with Sam Cooke. Later he played with Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield in Chicago, working largely in R'n'B, before moving to New York City in the mid-1960s. In New York, Muhammad became embedded in the jazz scene playing with Kenny Dorham,
Horace Silver
Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver (September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, particularly in the hard bop style that he helped pioneer in the 1950s.
After playing tenor saxophone and piano at sc ...
Betty Carter
Betty Carter (born Lillie Mae Jones; May 16, 1929 – September 26, 1998) was an American jazz singer known for her improvisational technique, scatting and other complex musical abilities that demonstrated her vocal talent and imaginative int ...
. He also played in the Apollo Theatre's house band. In 1967, he accepted a job in the orchestra for the initial off-Broadway production of ''Hair'' and stayed with the production when it moved to Broadway.
During this time, Muhammad was also in the Prestige label’s house band and made over 150 recordings for the Prestige, Blue Note, and CTI labels among others. He recorded with artists such as Lou Donaldson and Charles Earland who had begun merging jazz with sounds from funk, soul and rock. Muhammad also appeared as a sideman with artists such as
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...
George Benson
George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...
.Rudy Van Gelder often worked with Muhammad and had a special relationship with him. The producer greatly assisted with fine tuning Muhammad's recorded drum sound.
After four years with ''Hair'', Muhammad left the production to tour with
Roberta Flack
Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is a retired American singer. She topped the ''Billboard'' charts with the No. 1 singles " The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", " Killing Me Softly with His Song", " Feel Like Makin' Love", " W ...
whom he worked with for much of the next decade.
Muhammad’s first recording as a leader, ''
Black Rhythm Revolution!
''Black Rhythm Revolution!'' is the first album by the jazz drummer Idris Muhammad. It was recorded in 1970 and released by Prestige Records the following year.
Reception
Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote: "''Black Rhythm Revolution'' is not a bad ...
'', was released by Prestige in 1970 and was followed by ''
Peace and Rhythm
''Peace and Rhythm'' is the second album led by jazz drummer Idris Muhammad which was recorded for the Prestige label in 1971. Subsequent albums released on the Kudu imprint, '' Power of Soul'', '' House of the Rising Sun'', and ''
Turn This Mutha Out
''Turn This Mutha Out'' is a 1977 album by Idris Muhammad. Produced and arranged by CTI/Kudu staff arranger David Matthews, it was aimed more at the R&B/dance market than the jazz market. One of only a few Kudu albums not produced by label own ...
,'' took a turn towards funk. These albums have subsequently become favourites of funk enthusiasts and have been heavily sampled by hip-hop artists.
Towards the end of the 1970s, Muhammad joined Johnny Griffin's band and also spent time playing with Pharoah Sanders.
By the 1980s, Muhammad had moved to Europe. He continued to regularly play and record, collaborating with the likes of Ahmad Jamal, Chico Freeman and Sonny Rollins.
In 2011 he moved back to New Orleans. He died of kidney failure in 2014, aged 74, and was buried according to Islamic burial traditions.
Personal life
He changed his name to Idris Muhammad in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. Speaking on his name change, he later noted in an interview with Modern Drummer magazine, "One guy told me that if I changed my name, I was going to have a problem because no one would know that Leo Morris and Idris Muhammad were the same guy...But I thought, well, if I stay the same person, then people will know it’s me. And it worked like that. Everybody knew right away that it was me, because of my style of playing.”
In 1966, he married singer Dolores "LaLa" Brooks, a former member of the Crystals. She converted to Islam with him and went for a time by the name Sakinah Muhammad. They separated in 1999. Together, they had two sons and two daughters; he also had a daughter from his first marriage to Gracie Lee Edwards. One son, also named Idris Muhammed, is a professional chef who has appeared on several cooking competition shows including '' Beat Bobby Flay'' and '' Chopped''.
Muhammad endorsed Istanbul Agop Cymbals.
Discography
As leader
* 1970: ''
Black Rhythm Revolution!
''Black Rhythm Revolution!'' is the first album by the jazz drummer Idris Muhammad. It was recorded in 1970 and released by Prestige Records the following year.
Reception
Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote: "''Black Rhythm Revolution'' is not a bad ...
Turn This Mutha Out
''Turn This Mutha Out'' is a 1977 album by Idris Muhammad. Produced and arranged by CTI/Kudu staff arranger David Matthews, it was aimed more at the R&B/dance market than the jazz market. One of only a few Kudu albums not produced by label own ...
'' (Kudu)
* 1978: ''Boogie to the Top'' (Kudu)
* 1978: ''You Ain't No Friend of Mine'' (
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama ...
Calling Out Loud
''Calling Out Loud'' is an album by jazz cornetist Nat Adderley released on the CTI label featuring performances by Adderley with Jerome Richardson, Joe Zawinul, Ron Carter, and Leo Morris and with brass and woodwinds arranged and conducted by Bil ...
Solid!
''Solid!'' is an album by Eric Alexander, with John Hicks, George Mraz, and Idris Muhammad.
Background
"Anticipating Prestige's 50th anniversary in 1999, producer Todd Barkan combed the files to find out which were the label's most successful re ...
'' (Milestone, 1998)
With
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...
* ''
The Black Cat!
''The Black Cat!'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons, recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.You Talk That Talk!'' (Prestige, 1971)
* '' My Way'' (Prestige, 1971)
* '' Got My Own'' (Prestige, 1972)
* '' Big Bad Jug'' (Prestige, 1972)
With
George Benson
George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...
Bish Bash
''Bish Bash'' is an album by pianist Walter Bishop Jr. that was recorded in 1964 and 1968 and released on the Xanadu label.975
*''
Coral Keys
''Coral Keys'' is an album led by pianist Walter Bishop Jr. which was recorded in 1971 and originally released on the Black Jazz label.Bobby Broom
* ''Modern Man'' (Delmark, 2001)
With Rusty Bryant
*''
Cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
Alligator Bogaloo
''Alligator Bogaloo'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1967 and featuring Donaldson with Melvin Lastie, Lonnie Smith, George Benson, and Leo Morris (later to be better known as Idris Muhammad).
Th ...
Mr. Shing-A-Ling
''Mr. Shing-A-Ling'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1967 and featuring Donaldson with Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Ponder, and Leo Morris (better known as Idris Muhammad).Midnight Creeper
''Midnight Creeper'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1968 and featuring Donaldson with Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, George Benson, and Leo Morris.
Reception
The album was awarded 4 stars ...
'' (Blue Note, 1968)
* ''
Say It Loud!
''Say It Loud!'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1968 and featuring Donaldson with Blue Mitchell, Charles Earland, Jimmy Ponder, and Leo Morris.
Reception
The album was awarded 1½ stars in an All ...
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...
Black Talk!
''Black Talk!'' is an album by organist Charles Earland which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Grant Green
* ''
Carryin' On
''Carryin' On'' is an album by American jazz guitarist Grant Green featuring performances recorded in 1969 and released on the Blue Note label.
'' (Blue Note, 1969)
* ''
Green Is Beautiful
''Green Is Beautiful'' is an album by American jazz guitarist Grant Green featuring performances recorded in 1970 and released on the Blue Note label.
NYC Underground
''NYC Underground'' is a live album by saxophonist Johnny Griffin which was recorded at the Village Vanguard in 1979 and released on the Galaxy label in 1981.
Habana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.
Inc. 1
''Inc. 1'' is an album by pianist John Hicks's Trio recorded in Japan in 1985 and released on the Japanese DIW label.
'' (DIW, 1985)
*''
I'll Give You Something to Remember Me By
''I'll Give You Something to Remember Me By'' is an album led by pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1987.
Recording and music
The album was recorded in Monster, The Netherlands, on March 12, 1987. The musicians were pianist John Hicks, bassist Cu ...
One
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
Betwixt & Between
''Betwixt & Between'' is an album by American jazz trombonists Kai Winding and J. J. Johnson featuring performances recorded in 1968 and released on the CTI label.
Joe Lovano
Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born December 29, 1952)"Joe Lovano." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 13. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1994. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, May 5, 2017. is an American jazz saxophonist, alto clarin ...
Fast Hands
''Fast Hands'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Johnny Lytle which was recorded in 1980 for the Muse label.Good Vibes'' (Muse, 1982)
With Harold Mabern
*'' Workin' & Wailin''' (Prestige, 1969)
*''
Catalonian Rhapsody
''Catalonian Rhapsody'' is an album by pianist Tete Montoliu recorded in Spain in 1992 and first released on the Japanese label, Alfa before being reissued on Venus Records in 2014.Tisziji Munoz
* ''Visiting This Planet'' (Anami Music
* ''Hearing Voices'' (Anami Music)
With
David "Fathead" Newman
David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American jazz and Rhythm and blues, rhythm-and-blues saxophonist, who made numerous recordings as a session musician and leader, but is best known for his work as a sideman on ...
Houston Person
Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...
*''
Person to Person!
''Person to Person!'' is the eighth album led by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.
Jewels of Thought
''Jewels of Thought'' is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. It was recorded at Plaza Sound Studios in New York City on October 20, 1969, and was released on Impulse! Records in the same year. The 1998 reissue merged "Sun In ...
'' (
Impulse!
Impulse! Records (occasionally styled as "¡mpulse! Records" and "¡!") is an American jazz record company and label established by Creed Taylor in 1960. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings. Thanks to consistent sales and positiv ...
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
Lonnie Smith Lonnie Smith may refer to:
* Lonnie Smith (baseball) (born 1955), American baseball player
* Lonnie Smith (boxer) (born 1962), American boxer
* Lonnie Smith (organist) (1942–2021), American organist
* Lonnie Liston Smith (born 1940), American jaz ...
* ''
Turning Point
A turning point, or climax, is the point of highest tension in a narrative work.
Turning Point or Turning Points may refer to:
Film
* ''The Turning Point'', a 1914 silent film starring Caroline Cooke
* ''The Turning Point'' (1920 film), an Amer ...
Sneak Preview!
''Sneak Preview!'' is the debut album by jazz organist Leon Spencer, Jr. recorded for the Prestige label in 1970.
'' (Prestige, 1970)
* ''
Louisiana Slim
''Louisiana Slim'' is the second album by jazz organist Leon Spencer recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.Bad Walking Woman
''Bad Walking Woman'' is the third album by jazz organist Leon Spencer recorded for the Prestige label in 1972.Where I'm Coming From'' (Prestige, 1972)
With Bob Stewart
*'' First Line'' (JMT, 1988)
With
Sonny Stitt
Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/ hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of hi ...
Gábor Szabó
Gábor István Szabó (March 8, 1936 – February 26, 1982) was a Hungarian American guitarist whose style incorporated jazz, pop, rock, and Hungarian music.
Early years
Szabó was born in Budapest, Hungary. He began playing guitar at the ag ...
Common Touch
''Common Touch'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine featuring Shirley Scott recorded for the Blue Note label in 1968 and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, Jimmy Ponder, Bob Cranshaw and Leo Morris. The CD reissue added o ...
'' (Blue Note, 1968)
*'' The Man with the Sad Face'' (Fantasy, 1976)
With Randy Weston
* ''Portraits of Duke Ellington'' (Verve, 1989)
* ''Portraits of Thelonious Monk'' (Verve, 1989)
* ''Self Portraits'' (Verve, 1989)
* '' Spirits of Our Ancestors'' (Verve, 1991)
With
Reuben Wilson
Reuben Wilson (born April 9, 1935) is a jazz organist. He performs soul jazz and acid jazz, and is best known for his title track "Got to Get Your Own".
He was born in Mounds, Oklahoma and his family moved to Pasadena when he was 5.
He played in ...
* ''
Love Bug
The lovebug (''Plecia nearctica'') is a species of march fly found in parts of Central America and the southeastern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast. It is also known as the honeymoon fly or double-headed bug. During and after mat ...