Muhal Richard Abrams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muhal Richard Abrams
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Abrams at Moers Festival, 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Lewis Abrams |
| Born | September 19, 1930 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 2017 (aged 87) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Free jazz, post-bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, composer |
| Instruments | Piano, clarinet, cello |
| Years active | 1950s–2017 |
| Labels | Delmark, Black Saint, Novus, New World, Pi |
Muhal Richard Abrams (born Richard Lewis Abrams; September 19, 1930 – October 29, 2017) was an American musician. He was a talented jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. He also played the clarinet and cello.
Abrams was known for his unique style of jazz, called free jazz. He traveled and performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe. He played with many famous jazz musicians throughout his career.
Contents
Discovering Music: Early Life
Richard Lewis Abrams was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 19, 1930. He was one of nine children. His father worked as a handyman, and his mother was a homemaker.
As a child, Abrams was interested in many art forms. These included movies, painting, sculpture, and music. In 1946, he decided to focus on music. He left school and started taking piano lessons.
He later studied at the Metropolitan School of Music. He also worked at a printing company to pay for his studies. Abrams bought his own piano and taught himself a lot about music. He listened to famous jazz artists like Art Tatum and Charlie Parker. He also studied the works of composers like Duke Ellington.
Building a Career: 1950s and 1960s
Abrams began his music career by playing many different types of shows. He played blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues music. He worked with well-known musicians such as Dexter Gordon and Max Roach.
By the mid-1950s, Abrams was becoming known as a great pianist and composer. He even co-founded a music group called the MJT+3. They recorded an album in 1957 that featured some of his own songs.
The Experimental Band
Abrams was always eager to learn more about music. He studied books on musical composition. He then started a group of young musicians in Chicago in 1961. This group was called the Experimental Band. It was a place for Abrams to try out his new musical ideas.
The Experimental Band helped young musicians learn and grow together. They shared ideas and played each other's compositions. Many musicians looked up to Abrams. Saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell said Abrams "would always be turning people on to books."
Founding the AACM
In 1965, Abrams and three other musicians decided to create a new organization. They wanted to support original and creative music. This group became known as the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Abrams was chosen as its first president.
The AACM also started a school in 1967. Abrams taught classes on music composition there. Instead of playing in smoky clubs, AACM members often performed in theaters. This allowed them to play for audiences who truly wanted to listen.
In 1967, Abrams started using the name Muhal. He later explained that the word means "number one."
New York and Beyond: 1970s to 2017
In the 1970s, Abrams wrote music for many different groups. These included symphony orchestras and big bands. He also made several recordings with larger groups that included instruments like the harp.
In 1972, Abrams formed a sextet with other AACM members. This group performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1973. The next year, he had a successful solo concert at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. He also toured Europe with the famous Art Ensemble of Chicago.
Abrams moved from Chicago to New York City in 1976. He wanted to be in the center of the music scene. In New York, he continued to compose and record new music. He also helped start the New York Chapter of the AACM in 1982.
Awards and Recognition
Muhal Richard Abrams received many awards for his contributions to jazz.
- In 1990, he won the Jazzpar Prize from Denmark.
- He received a Grants to Artists Award in 1997.
- In 2010, he was given the NEA Jazz Masters Award. This is a very important award for jazz musicians in the U.S.
- He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from New York City's Vision Festival in 2010.
Muhal Richard Abrams passed away at his home in Manhattan on October 29, 2017, at the age of 87. His daughter, Richarda, became an actress and singer.
Influence on Music
Muhal Richard Abrams was a very influential artist. He played with many musicians early in his career. He also released important recordings as a bandleader. He wrote classical pieces, like his "String Quartet No. 2." This piece was performed by the famous Kronos Quartet in New York.
Discography
Muhal Richard Abrams recorded many albums as a leader and as a sideman. Some of his notable albums as a leader include Levels and Degrees of Light (1967), Afrisong (1975), and Mama and Daddy (1980). He also played on albums with artists like the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Anthony Braxton, and Eddie Harris.
Images for kids
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Abrams at Moers Festival, 2009
See also
In Spanish: Muhal Richard Abrams para niños
