Muhammad Ali (born Raymond Patterson, December 23, 1936) is an American

free jazz Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians dur ...

drummer.

Early life

Ali was born and raised in Philadelphia where he, along with his father and brothers, converted to Islam. His older brother,

Rashied Ali Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009) was an American free jazz and avant-garde drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life. Biography Early life Patterson was born and ...

, was also a drummer.

Career

He recorded with Albert Ayler in 1969 on the sessions released as '' Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe'' and '' The Last Album''. Like many Jazz musicians of the 60's, he moved to Europe in 1969 along with Frank Wright, Noah Howard, and

Bobby Few Bobby Few (October 21, 1935 – January 6, 2021) was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. Early life Few was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in the Fairfax neighborhood of the city's East Side. Upon his mother's encouragement, he studi ...

. '' The Jazz Discography'' states that Ali participated in 26 recording sessions from 1967 to 1983. In October 2006, Ali participated in a concert to celebrate

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and rai ...

's 80th birthday in his hometown of Philadelphia. Also featured were his brother, pianist

Dave Burrell Herman Davis "Dave" Burrell (born September 10, 1940) is an American jazz pianist. He has played with many jazz musicians including Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown and David Murray. Biography Born in Middletown, Ohio, United Sta ...

, and bassist

Reggie Workman Reginald "Reggie" Workman (born June 26, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey. Career Early in his career, Workman work ...

. He also played with alto saxophonist Noah Howard in the summer of 2008. In 2010, he recorded ''

Planetary Unknown ''Planetary Unknown'' is an album by saxophonist David S. Ware which was recorded in 2010 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. Reception In his review for AllMusic, arwulf arwulf said "Anyone who knows and loves modern creative improvised mu ...

'' in a quartet led by David S. Ware, Ali's first recording in nearly thirty years.

Discography

As sideman

With

Idris Ackamoor Idris Ackamoor (born Bruce Baker, January 9, 1951) is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, actor, tap dancer, producer, administrator, and director. He is also artistic director of the jazz ensemble The Pyramids. The Pyramids He founded th ...

, Rashied Al Akbar, and Earl Cross *'' Ascent of the Nether Creatures'' (NoBusiness, 2014) recorded in 1980 With Albert Ayler *'' Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe'' (Impulse!, 1969) *'' The Last Album'' (Impulse!, 1971) *'' Holy Ghost: Rare & Unissued Recordings (1962–70)'' (Revenant, 2004) With Hans Dulfer *''El saxofón'' (Catfish, 1971) With

*''More or Less Few'' (Center of the World, 1973) *''Rhapsody in Few'' (Black Lion, 1983) With Noah Howard *'' The Black Ark'' (Freedom, 1971) *''Space Dimension'' (America, 1971) *''Live in Europe Vol. 1'' (Sun, 1975) With

Steve Lacy Steve Lacy may refer to: Music * Steve Lacy (saxophonist) (1934–2004), American jazz saxophonist and composer * Steve Lacy (singer) (born 1998), American musician Other occupations *Steve Lacy (coach) (1908–2000), American college sports coach ...

*''Associates'' (Musica Jazz, 1996) With Michel Pilz *''Jamabiko'' (M.P., 1984) With

Saheb Sarbib Saheb Sarbib (born 1944) is an American jazz double-bassist and bandleader. Career Sarbib, born Jean Henri Sarbib, was raised in Europe. His father was Roger Sarbib, a French pianist and innovator of the big band style in Portugal in the 1940s a ...

*''Live In Europe Vol 1'' (Sasa, 1976) *''Live In Europe Vol 2'' (Marge, 1976) With

Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz. Biography Early life Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...

*''

Pitchin Can ''Pitchin Can'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded in Paris, France, in 1969 and 1970 for the America label. The album features one track by Shepp with Clifford Thornton, Noah Howard, Julio Finn, Leroy Jenkins, Dave Burrell, ...

'' (America, 1970) *''

Coral Rock ''Coral Rock'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded in Europe in 1970 for the America label at the same sessions which produced ''Pitchin Can''. The album was also issued by the Prestige label in 1973. Reception The Allmusic rev ...

'' (America, 1973) *''Live At The Festival'' (Enja, 1975) (one track) *'' Doodlin''' (Inner City, 1976) With Alan Shorter * ''

Orgasm Orgasm (from Greek , ; "excitement, swelling") or sexual climax is the sudden discharge of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, resulting in rhythmic, involuntary muscular contractions in the pelvic region charact ...

'' (Verve, 1969) With

Alan Silva Alan Silva (born Alan Lee da Silva; January 22, 1939 in Bermuda) is an American free jazz double bassist and keyboard player. Biography Silva was born a British subject to an Azorean/ Portuguese mother, Irene da Silva, and a black Bermudian f ...

*''The Shout - Portrait for a Small Woman'' (Sun Records, 1979) With David S. Ware *''

'' (AUM Fidelity, 2011) * ''

Live at Jazzfestival Saalfelden 2011 ''Live at Jazzfestival Saalfelden 2011'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist David S. Ware released on the AUM Fidelity label. It documents the second live performance by Ware's band Planetary Unknown following its world premiere at Vision ...

'' (AUM Fidelity, 2012) With Frank Wright *'' Your Prayer'' (ESP-Disk, 1967) *''

One for John ''One for John'' is an album by saxophonist Frank Wright. Dedicated to Wright's mentor, John Coltrane, it was recorded at Studio Saravah in Paris on December 5, 1969, and was released in 1970 by BYG Records as part of their Actuel series. On the ...

'' (BYG, 1970) *'' Church Number Nine'' (Odeon, 1971) *'' Center of the World'' (Center of the World, 1972) *''

Last Polka in Nancy? ''Last Polka in Nancy?'' is the second album by the free jazz quartet Center of the World, consisting of saxophonist Frank Wright, pianist Bobby Few, bassist Alan Silva and drummer Muhammad Ali. It was recorded live in 1973 at the Nancy Jazz Pul ...

'' (Center of the World, 1973) *''Adieu, Little Man'' (Center of the World, 1974) *''For Example - Workshop Freie Musik 1969 - 1978'' (FMP, 1978) (one track) *'' The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings'' (ESP-Disk, 2005) *'' Unity'' (ESP-Disk, 2006) With Bobby Zankel * ''Celebrating William Parker @ 65'' (Not Two, 2017)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Muhammad 1936 births Living people African-American drummers African-American Muslims Converts to Islam American jazz drummers Free jazz drummers 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American people