Jamaaladeen Tacuma facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Jamaaladeen Tacuma
Tacuma in Vienna, 2008
Background information
Birth name	Rudy McDaniel
Born	(1956-06-11) June 11, 1956 (age 69) Hempstead, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, free jazz, free funk, jazz fusion
Instruments	Electric bass
Years active	1975–present
Labels	Gramavision, Thirsty Ear, P-Vine, DIW, Moers Music, Timeless

Jamaaladeen Tacuma (born Rudy McDaniel on June 11, 1956) is an American musician. He is a very talented bassist, composer, and producer. He was born in Hempstead, New York. Tacuma is known for his unique jazz and funk music style.

He led his own bands on the Gramavision music label. He also worked with the famous musician Ornette Coleman in the 1970s and 1980s. Tacuma was a key member of Coleman's band, Prime Time. His playing style was so special that many people thought he was one of the most unique bassists around. He created his own group and made albums that mixed catchy tunes with complex music.

The Musical Journey of Jamaaladeen Tacuma
Music Albums by Jamaaladeen Tacuma
See also

The Musical Journey of Jamaaladeen Tacuma

Early Life and Discovering Music

Jamaaladeen Tacuma grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became interested in music when he was very young. As a teenager, he played with the organist Charles Earland. Through Earland, Tacuma met music producer Reggie Lucas. Lucas then introduced Jamaaladeen to the legendary musician Ornette Coleman in 1975. Tacuma was only 19 years old at the time.

Rising to Fame with Prime Time

Tacuma quickly became well-known as the electric bassist for Coleman's band, Prime Time. This group played a mix of funk and jazz music. Another important member of the band was guitarist Bern Nix. While playing with Prime Time, Tacuma mostly used a traditional finger-picking style. Later, he became known for his amazing improvising skills. He also developed a more rhythmic, thumb-slapping funk style.

The first three albums by Prime Time showed off Tacuma's bass playing. These albums were Dancing in Your Head, Body Meta, and Of Human Feelings. On these recordings, he used a Rickenbacker bass. This type of bass was popular with rock musicians but not often used in jazz. In the 1980s, he switched to a Steinberger bass. This instrument helped him create his easily recognizable sound.

Big Performances and Solo Career

Tacuma's work with Prime Time led to one of his biggest performances. He appeared with the band on the TV show Saturday Night Live on April 14, 1979. Tacuma later said this was his "best live performance ever." He also worked with other great musicians like James "Blood" Ulmer and David Murray. He also teamed up with new artists from the New York music scene. These included Kip Hanrahan, David Moss, and Bill Laswell.

Tacuma released his first solo album, Show Stopper, in 1983. It came out on the Gramavision label. This album continued the jazz-funk style he had developed with Ornette Coleman. His other albums as a leader for Gramavision followed a similar musical path.

Later Career and Collaborations

In the 1980s, Tacuma started playing more straightforward funk and R&B music with his group, Cosmetic. Music magazines often featured him because of his powerful playing style and cool fashion sense. In 1981, he received the most votes ever for an electric bassist in a DownBeat magazine poll. This poll recognized talent that deserved wider attention.

Since the early 1990s, Tacuma has continued to be active in music. He has made many solo recordings and worked with other artists. This includes several albums of duets with saxophonist Wolfgang Puschnig. One of his recordings, Mirakle, was called one of the "most important recordings of year 2000" by AllMusic. This album featured Tacuma, drummer Grant Calvin Weston, and guitarist Derek Bailey. In 2006, he returned to the jazz spotlight. He appeared on the World Saxophone Quartet's album Political Blues.

In 2007, he formed a powerful trio called Free Form Funky Freqs. He joined with Weston and guitarist Vernon Reid. Reid is known for his work with the band Living Colour. Tacuma has also recorded two albums with Basso Nouveau. This group features several bassists playing different types of bass instruments together. Bassist Gerald Veasley is also part of this group.

Awards and Recognition

Jamaaladeen Tacuma has received many awards and honors for his musical contributions.

"Parallel Culture" Award in 2009.
Marcus Garvey Foundation 50th Anniversary Award in 2011.
The Pew Fellowship in the Arts in 2011.
The Uptown Theater Hall of Fame Award in 2014.
Gerald Veasely's Bass Boot Camp "Living The Dream Award" in 2016.
The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz Best Bassist Award in 2017.
The City of Philadelphia's Benny Golson Award in 2018. This award includes a City proclamation and the Liberty Bell award, which is one of the highest honors from the City of Philadelphia.

He has also received residency fellowships at places like The MacDowell Colony (2011), Headlands Center for the Arts (2012), and Civitella Ranieri (2014). Since 2015, Tacuma has organized the annual Outsiders Improvised & Creative Music Festival in Philadelphia. He continues to travel, produce music, and record all over the world.

Music Albums by Jamaaladeen Tacuma

As a Leader

Show Stopper (Gramavision, 1983)
Renaissance Man (Gramavision, 1984)
Music World (Gramavision, 1986)
Jukebox (Gramavision, 1988)
Boss of the Bass (Gramavision, 1991)
Sound Symphony (1992)
with Basso Nouveau: The Night of Chamber Music (Moers Music, 1993)
Dreamscape (DIW, 1996)
Groove 2000 (P-Vine, 1998)
Brotherzone (P-Vine, 1999)
Flavors of Thelonious Monk Reloaded (Extraplatte/Jam All Productions 2008)
Rendezvous Suite (Jazzwerkstatt, 2011)
For the Love of Ornette (Jam All Productions /P-Vine, 2010)
Legends of The Pipe & Sweater (Jam All Productions, 2015)
Electric Electrico (Jam All Productions 2016)
Gnawa Soul Experience (Jam All Productions, 2017)

With Cosmetic

Cosmetics / New Complexion (12", Rough Trade, 1981)
Get Ready (/ Put It On) (12", Gramavision, 1982)
(In the) Nightlife (/ (In the) Nightlife (Instrumental)) (12", Gramavision, 1983)
So Tranquilizin' (Gramavision, 1985)
So Tranquilizin' (Dance Mix) (/ N-Er-Gize-Me) (12", Gramavision, 1985)

As a Co-Leader

and Dennis Alston: Sound Symphony (Moers Music, 1992)
and Cornell Rochester: Meet the Podium 3: Live in Köln (Timeless, 1994)
Doran – Studer – Tacuma (with Christy Doran and Freddy Studer): Race the Time (Migros, 1997)
with Burhan Öçal featuring Natacha Atlas: Groove alla turca (Doublemoon, 1999)
with Derek Bailey and Calvin Weston: Mirakle (Tzadik, 2000)
with Uwe Kropinski: Zwei (Jazzwerkstatt, 2009)
The Meeting Trio- Bobby Zankel and Webb Thomas (Jam All Productions, 2016)

With Free Form Funky Frēqs (trio with Vernon Reid and Calvin Weston)

Urban Mythology Volume One (Thirsty Ear, 2007)
Bon Vivant (Jam All Productions, 2013)
Hymn of the 3rd Galaxy (Ropeadope, 2022)

As a Sideman (Playing with Others)

With Ornette Coleman

Body Meta (Artists House, 1976)
Dancing in Your Head (A&M/Horizon Records, 1977)
Of Human Feelings (Antilles, 1982)
Opening the Caravan of Dreams (Caravan of Dreams, 1985)
In All Languages (Caravan of Dreams, 1987)

With Wolfgang Puschnig

Pieces of the Dream (Amadeo, 1988)
Gemini-Gemini – The Flavors of Thelonious Monk (ITM, 1991)
Alpine Aspects (Amadeo, 1991)
Mixed Metaphors w/ Ernst Jandl (Amadeo, 1995)
Journey Into the Gemini Territory (ITM Pacific, 1996)
Roots & Fruits (Amadeo, 1998)

With Sean Noonan

Boxing Dreams (Songlines, 2008)
There's Always the Night (noonansmusic, 2014)
Tan Man's Hat (Rarenoise, 2019)

With Red Sun and Samul Nori

Red Sun/Samul Nori (Amadeo, 1989)
Then Comes the White Tiger (ECM, 1994)
Nanjang – A New Horizon (Amadeo, 1995)

With Linda Sharrock

Linda Sharrock & The Three Man Band (Moers Music, 1991)

With Others

With James Carter: Layin' the Cut (Atlantic, 2000)
With Walt Dickerson: Walt Dickerson 1976 (Whynot, 1976)
With Walt Dickerson: Serendipity (SteepleChase, 1977)
With James Blood Ulmer: Tales of Captain Black (Artists House, 1978)
With James Blood Ulmer: Music Revelation Ensemble (DIW, 1988)
With Kip Hanrahan: Coup de tête (American Clavé, 1981)
With Kip Hanrahan: Desire Develops an Edge (American Clavé, 1983)
With Conjure: Music for the Texts of Ishmael Reed (American Clavé, 1985)
With Nona Hendryx: Nona (RCA, 1982)
With The Golden Palominos: The Golden Palominos (Celluloid, 1983)
With David Moss: Full House (Moers Music, 1984)
With Jayne Cortez and the Firespitters: There It Is (Bola Press, 1982)
With Cashmere: Let the Music Turn You On (Philly World, 1983)
With Veronica Underwood: Veronica Underwood (Philly World, 1985)
With Khan Jamal: Thinking of You (Storyville, 1987)
With Grant Calvin Weston: Dance Romance (In+Out, 1988)
With Fool Proof: No Friction (Gramavision, 1988)
With James Watkins: Intense (ITM, 1989)
With Courtney Pine: The Vision's Tale (Antilles, 1989)
With Pink Inc.: Alex Deutsch 's Pink Inc. (DIW, 1991)
With Pink Inc.: Keys 2 the Kastle (Sweeca, 1995)
With Bazillus: The Regulator featuring Eddie Harris (Act/Zero, 1992)
With Fredy Studer and Christy Doran: Half a Lifetime (Unit, 1994)
With Sylk 130: When the Funk Hits the Fan (Ovum, 1997)
With Ben Schachter: Fractals (Ben-Jam, 1999)
With Peter Murphy: Dust (Metropolis, 2002)
With Marc Ribot: The Young Philadelphians: Live in Tokyo (Yellowbird, 2015)