Ahmed Abdul-Malik facts for kids

Ahmed Abdul-Malik was an amazing American jazz musician. He played the double bass (a big string instrument) and the oud (a string instrument from the Middle East). He was born Jonathan Tim, Jr. on January 30, 1927, and passed away on October 2, 1993.

Ahmed Abdul-Malik is famous for mixing sounds from the Middle East and North Africa with jazz music. He played bass for many legendary jazz artists like Art Blakey, Earl Hines, Randy Weston, and Thelonious Monk.

Early Life and Musical Start

Ahmed Abdul-Malik was born Jonathan Tim Jr. in Brooklyn, New York. His parents had moved there from St. Vincent in the British West Indies.

Learning Music

Jonathan Jr. started learning music at a young age. His father, who was a plasterer, taught him to play the violin. When he was seven, Jonathan Jr. went to the Vardi School of Music and Art. There, he continued his violin lessons. Over time, he also learned to play the piano, cello, bass, and tuba.

High School and Beyond

Jonathan Jr. kept studying music. He even took lessons from a local bass player named Franklin Skeete. Later, he joined The High School of Music & Art in Harlem. His skills on the violin and viola were so good that he earned a spot in the All-City Orchestra.

A Unique Jazz Sound

Ahmed Abdul-Malik was most active as a jazz musician from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. During this time, he recorded several albums as a band leader.

Mixing Cultures in Music

His albums are known for blending jazz with Arabic and African music. This made his sound very fresh and exciting. People also described him as a talented hard bop bassist.

Traveling the World with Music

As an oud player, Ahmed Abdul-Malik traveled a lot. He went on a tour of South America for the United States Department of State. He also performed at an African jazz festival in Morocco.

Discography

Ahmed Abdul-Malik recorded many albums, both as a leader of his own band and as a sideman (playing with other artists).

As a Band Leader

• 1958: Jazz Sahara (Riverside) with Johnny Griffin
• 1959: East Meets West (RCA Victor)
• 1961: The Music of Ahmed Abdul-Malik (New Jazz)
• 1962: Sounds of Africa (New Jazz)
• 1963: The Eastern Moods of Ahmed Abdul-Malik (Prestige)
• 1964: Spellbound (Status) with Ray Nance and Seldon Powell

Playing with Other Artists

With Art Blakey

• The African Beat (Blue Note, 1962)

With John Coltrane

• Live! at the Village Vanguard (Impulse!, 1961)

With Walt Dickerson

• Relativity (New Jazz, 1962)
• Jazz Impressions of Lawrence of Arabia (Dauntless, 1963)

With Earl Hines

• 'Fatha': The New Earl Hines Trio (1964)
• The Real Earl Hines (1964)

With Jutta Hipp

• Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims (1956)

With Odetta

• Sometimes I Feel Like Cryin' (RCA Victor, 1962)
• Odetta and the Blues (Riverside, 1962)
• Odetta Sings the Blues (Riverside, 1968)

With Herbie Mann

• Herbie Mann at the Village Gate (Atlantic, 1961)
• Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate (Atlantic, 1961 [1963])

With Ken McIntyre

• Year of the Iron Sheep (United Artists, 1962)

With Thelonious Monk

• Misterioso (Riverside, 1958)
• Thelonious in Action (Riverside, 1958)
• Discovery! Live at Five Spot (Blue Note, 1958)
• Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (Blue Note, 1957, released 2005)

With Dave Pike

• Limbo Carnival (New Jazz, 1962)

With Randy Weston

• With These Hands... (Riverside, 1956)
• Jazz à la Bohemia (Riverside, 1956)
• The Modern Art of Jazz by Randy Weston (Dawn, 1956)
• Tanjah (Polydor, 1973)