Vernel Anthony Fournier (July 30, 1928 – November 4, 2000) and, from 1975, known as Amir Rushdan, 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 ...

drummer A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums. Most contemporary western bands that play rock, pop, jazz, or R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeeping and embellishing the musical timbre. The drummer' ...

probably best known for his work with Ahmad Jamal from 1956 to 1962.

Biography

Fournier was born in

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a U.S. state, state in the Deep South and South Central United States, South Central regions of the United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 20th-smal ...

, into a Creole family. He left college to join a big band led by King Kolax. After Kolax downsized to a quintet, Fournier moved to

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

in 1948, where he played with such musicians as Buster Bennett, Paul Bascomb and Teddy Wilson. As house drummer at the Bee Hive club on Chicago's South Side in 1953–55, he accompanied many visiting soloists, including Lester Young, Ben Webster,

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 ...

, J.J. Johnson, Earl Washington and Stan Getz. From 1953 to 1956, Fournier also worked many recording sessions with

Al Smith Alfred Emanuel Smith (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944) was an American politician who served four terms as Governor of New York and was the Democratic Party's candidate for president in 1928. The son of an Irish-American mother and a ...

, Red Holloway, Lefty Bates, and others. He joined Ahmad Jamal's trio in 1957, along with bass player Israel Crosby, and remained with the group until 1962, appearing on a series of recordings for the

Chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

label. The best known of these, '' At the Pershing: But Not for Me'' (1958), became one of the best selling jazz records of all time, remaining on the '' Billboard'' jazz charts for over two years. After leaving the Jamal trio, Fournier joined George Shearing for two years before rejoining Jamal briefly in 1965–66. He then took a long-running gig with a trio at a restaurant owned by Elijah Muhammad. He converted to Islam in 1975, and took the Muslim name of Amir Rushdan.Ben Ratliff
"Vernel Fournier, 72, Jazz Drummer Revered for Precision and Understatement"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', November 10, 2000. He worked with Nancy Wilson, Clifford Jordan, Billy Eckstine and Joe Williams,

John Lewis John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil rights activist who served in the United States House of Representatives for from 1987 until his death in 2020. He participated in the 1960 Nashvill ...

and Barry Harris. Fournier was also a teacher of drumming, working at Barry Harris's Jazz Cultural Theater, the New School, and the Mannes College of Music. A stroke in 1994 left him unable to use his legs and confined him to a wheelchair. Although he was unable to play drums professionally, after his stroke, he continued his teaching activities. He died from a

cerebral hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, intraparenchymal bleed, and hemorrhagic stroke, or haemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is one kind of bleed ...

Jackson, Mississippi Jackson, officially the City of Jackson, is the Capital city, capital of and the List of municipalities in Mississippi, most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city is also one of two county seats of Hinds County, Mississippi, ...

, in 2000.

Discography

With

Lorez Alexandria Lorez Alexandria (born Dolorez Alexandria Turner; August 14, 1929 – May 22, 2001). was an American jazz singer, described as "one of the most gifted and underrated jazz singers of the twentieth century". She became established in the midwest ...

*'' Deep Roots'' (Argo, 1962) With

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused him to be h ...

*''

3 in Jazz ''3 in Jazz'' is an album released on the RCA label which features tracks from three separate sessions by vibraphonist Gary Burton's Quartet, Sonny Rollins & Co. and the Clark Terry Quintet recorded in 1963.Billy Eckstine and

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

*'' Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter'' (Verve, 1986) With Ahmad Jamal *'' At the Pershing: But Not for Me'' (Argo, 1958) *'' Jamal at the Penthouse'' (Argo, 1959) *'' Happy Moods'' (Argo, 1960) *'' Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet'' (Argo, 1960) *''

Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra ''Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra'' is a live album by American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, featuring performances recorded at Jamal's own club in Chicago in 1961 and released on the Argo label.

'' (Argo, 1961) *'' All of You'' (Argo, 1961) *''

Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk ''Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk'' is a live album by American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal featuring performances recorded in San Francisco in 1962 and released on the Argo label.

'' (Argo, 1962) *'' Poinciana'' (Argo, 1963) *'' Extensions'' (Argo, 1965) *'' Rhapsody'' (Cadet, 1965) With

Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Ge ...

*'' I'll Be Seeing You'' (Muse, 1987) With Sam Jones *'' Down Home'' (Riverside, 1962) With Clifford Jordan *''

Repetition Repetition may refer to: *Repetition (rhetorical device), repeating a word within a short space of words * Repetition (bodybuilding), a single cycle of lifting and lowering a weight in strength training *Working title for the 1985 slasher film '' ...

'' (Soul Note, 1984) *'' Dr. Chicago'' (Bee Hive, 1984) *'' Royal Ballads'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1986) *'' Live at Ethell's'' (Mapleshade, 1987

990 Year 990 ( CMXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Al-Mansur, ''de facto'' ruler of Al-Andalus, conquers the Castle of Montemor-o-Velho (mode ...

*''

Down Through the Years ''Down Through the Years'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan's Big Band that was recorded in New York City in 1991 and released on the Milestone label in 1992.

'' (Milestone, 1991) With

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 ...

*'' Very PERSONal'' (Muse, 1980) With Jimmy Reed *"

Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby :Not to be confused with ''Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby (Jimmy Reed song)'' "Ain't That Loving You, Baby" is a song written by Clyde Otis and Ivory Joe Hunter and originally recorded by Eddie Riff in 1956. Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1958 an ...

" (Vee-Jay, 1953) *''

I'm Jimmy Reed ''I'm Jimmy Reed'' is an album by blues musician Jimmy Reed, compiling twelve tracks originally issued as singles between 1953 and 1958, that was released by the Vee-Jay label.

'' (Vee-Jay, 1955-58 958 With George Shearing *'' Mood Latino'' (Capitol, 1961) *'' The Swingin's Mutual!'' (Capitol, 1961) - with Nancy Wilson *''

Jazz Concert ''Jazz Concert'' is a 1963 live album by George Shearing and his quintet, recorded 16 February 1963 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Reception Scott Yanow reviewed the album for Allmusic and wrote that "The most memorable tracks include "W ...

'' (1963) *''

Rare Form! ''Rare Form!'' is a live album by George Shearing and his quintet, recorded in San Francisco in July 1963. It was released in 1966. Reception Scott Yanow reviewed the album for Allmusic and wrote that Shearing and his quintet "...are heard on ...

'' (1966 963 With Frank Strozier *''Cloudy and Cool'' (Vee Jay, 1960) - with Billy Wallace and Bill Lee

Drum method

* ''Vernel Fournier - Drum Techniques: Intermediate - Advanced Exercises and Etudes''

References

External links

Profile at drummerworld.com

Video w/ Ahmad Jamal Trio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fournier, Vernel Converts to Islam Jazz musicians from New Orleans 1928 births 2000 deaths 20th-century American musicians American Muslims American jazz drummers