Rashied Ali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rashied Ali
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Patterson |
| Born | July 1, 1933 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 12, 2009 (aged 76) New York City |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1963–2009 |
| Labels | Tzadik |
| Associated acts | John Coltrane, Phalanx |
Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009), was an American drummer. He was famous for playing a style of music called free jazz. This type of jazz is very creative and often doesn't follow strict rules. Rashied Ali is best known for working with the legendary musician John Coltrane during the last years of Coltrane's life.
Contents
Who Was Rashied Ali?
Early Life and Musical Start
Robert Patterson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1933. His family loved music. His mother was a singer, and his brother, Muhammad Ali, also became a drummer. The family later converted to Islam.
Rashied Ali first tried playing the piano. Then he learned the trumpet and trombone. Finally, he found his true passion: the drums. He even played drums in military bands when he was in the United States Army during the Korean War. After his time in the army, he went home and studied with a famous drummer named Philly Joe Jones. He also toured with another great musician, Sonny Rollins.
Starting His Music Career
In 1963, Rashied Ali moved to New York City. There, he played with groups led by musicians like Bill Dixon and Paul Bley. He was almost part of a big recording with John Coltrane called Ascension. He was supposed to be a second drummer, but he didn't join the recording.
However, Ali did start recording with Coltrane in 1965. Their first album together was Meditations.
Playing with John Coltrane
Rashied Ali played on some of John Coltrane's most important and experimental albums. These included The Olatunji Concert, which was Coltrane's last recorded live performance. He also played on Interstellar Space, an album of duets recorded in 1967.
Coltrane himself said that Ali played "multi-directional rhythms." This meant Ali's drumming was very complex and helped push jazz music in new directions. After Coltrane passed away, Ali continued to play with Coltrane's wife, Alice Coltrane, who was a pianist.
Ali's Alley and Other Projects
In the early 1970s, Rashied Ali opened his own music club in New York City called Ali's Alley. It was a special place for musicians to perform.
He also worked with many other artists. He was a visiting artist at Wesleyan University. He even formed a unique group called Purple Trap with Japanese guitarist Keiji Haino and bassist Bill Laswell. They released an album in 1999.
In the 1980s, Ali was part of a group called Phalanx. This band included guitarist James Blood Ulmer, saxophonist George Adams, and bassist Sirone. From 1997 to 2003, he played a lot with Tisziji Munoz, often with Pharoah Sanders.
Rashied Ali also explored other art forms. He performed in multi-media shows that combined music with other arts. He was part of groups like the Gift of Eagle Orchestra and Cosmic Legends. These performances often took place at places like The Kitchen Center for Performance Art and even in Central Park in New York.
Later Years and Legacy
In his final years, Rashied Ali led his own music group, a quintet. They recorded a double album called Judgment Day in 2005. This album was recorded at Ali's own studio, Survival Studio, which he had since the 1970s. Ali also helped young drummers by mentoring them.
In 2007, Ali recorded Going to the Ritual with bassist and violinist Henry Grimes. They also played several concerts together. Rashied Ali was also the drummer on Azar Lawrence's album Mystic Journey, which came out in 2010.
Rashied Ali passed away in 2009 at the age of 76 after a heart attack. He left behind his wife, Patricia, and three children. His unique drumming style and his work with John Coltrane left a lasting mark on jazz music.
Rashied Ali's Music Albums
Albums as a Leader or Co-Leader
- 1971 – New Directions in Modern Music (Survival)
- 1972 – Duo Exchange (Survival)
- 1975 – Swift Are the Winds of Life (Survival)
- 1973 – Rashied Ali Quintet (Survival)
- 1974 – Moon Flight (Knitting Factory)
- 1975 – N.Y. Ain't So Bad (Survival)
- 1989 – Rashied Ali in France (Blue Music Group)
- 1994 – Peace on Earth: The Music of John Coltrane (Knitting Factory)
- 1995 – Meditations (Knitting Factory)
- 1995 – Bells (Knitting Factory)
- 1999 – Rings of Saturn (Knitting Factory)
- 2000 – Live at Tonic (DIW)
- 2008 – Going to the Ritual (Porter)
- 2009 – At the Vision Festival (Blue Music Group)
- 2009 – Eddie Jefferson at Ali's Alley (Blue Music Group)
- 2009 – Configurations, the Music of John Coltrane (Blue Music Group)
- 2009 – Cutt'n Korners (Blue Music Group)
- 2010 – Spirits Aloft (Porter)
- 2020 – First Time Out: Live At Slugs 1967 (Rashied Ali Quintet)
Albums as a Sideman (Playing with Others)
With Gary Bartz
- [[Home! .....
- Parabolic (Verve, 1969)
With James Blood Ulmer
- Music Speaks Louder Than Words (DIW, 1996)
With Frank Wright
- Blues for Albert Ayler (ESP-Disk, 2012)
