Sahib Shihab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sahib Shihab
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edmund Gregory |
| Born | June 23, 1925 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | October 24, 1989 (aged 64) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Baritone, soprano and alto saxophone, Flute and alto flute |
| Years active | 1940s–1980s |
| Associated acts | Gene Quill, Phil Woods, Hal Stein, Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band |
Sahib Shihab (born Edmund Gregory; June 23, 1925 – October 24, 1989) was an American jazz musician. He was a talented player of the saxophone (baritone, alto, and soprano) and the flute. Sahib Shihab worked with many famous jazz artists like Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Quincy Jones.
The Early Life of Sahib Shihab
Sahib Shihab was born as Edmund Gregory in Savannah, Georgia, United States. He started playing the alto saxophone when he was only 13 years old. His first professional job was with musician Luther Henderson.
Edmund also studied music at the Boston Conservatory. He later performed with the famous trumpeter Roy Eldridge. In the mid-1940s, he played the lead alto saxophone for Fletcher Henderson's band.
Why Did He Change His Name?
In 1947, Edmund Gregory became one of the first jazz musicians to convert to Islam. He then changed his name to Sahib Shihab. He was part of the Ahmadiyya branch of Islam.
Sahib Shihab's Jazz Career
During the late 1940s, Sahib Shihab played with the legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. They recorded music together, including a session on July 23, 1951. This recording later appeared on the album Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2.
Around this time, Sahib also recorded with other jazz greats. These included Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, and Benny Golson.
Switching to Baritone Saxophone
A very important moment in Sahib Shihab's career was when he was invited to play with Dizzy Gillespie's big band in the early 1950s. This is when he started playing the baritone saxophone. He became well-known for his skills on this instrument.
A Famous Photograph
On August 12, 1958, Sahib Shihab was part of a special moment in jazz history. He was one of the many musicians photographed by Art Kane for his famous picture called "A Great Day in Harlem". This photo shows many jazz legends together.
Moving to Europe
In 1959, Sahib Shihab went on tour in Europe with Quincy Jones. He decided to stay in Scandinavia because he felt unhappy with the racial issues in the United States at the time. He first lived in Stockholm, Sweden, and then moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1964.
While in Denmark, he worked for Copenhagen Polytechnic. He also wrote music for television shows, movies, and plays. He even wrote a ballet based on the famous Danish fairy tale, The Red Shoes, by Hans Christian Andersen.
In Denmark, Sahib Shihab played with local musicians, like the bass player Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. He also started a music publishing company and a record company with pianist Kenny Drew.
Joining the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band
In 1961, Sahib Shihab joined the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band. This was a very popular jazz band, and he stayed with them for all 12 years they were together. He married a Danish woman and raised his family in Europe.
Eurovision Song Contest Appearance
In 1966, Sahib Shihab even appeared on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest. He played with Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson for the Swedish song "Nygammal Vals".
Returning to the United States
In 1973, Sahib Shihab returned to the United States for three years. During this time, he worked as a session musician, playing for rock and pop artists. He also helped other musicians by copying their music.
For the rest of his life, he split his time between New York and Copenhagen. He played music with Art Farmer and also led his own jazz group called Dues. From 1986, he was a visiting artist at Rutgers University.
Sahib Shihab passed away from liver cancer on October 24, 1989, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. He was 64 years old.
Sahib Shihab's Music Albums
Sahib Shihab recorded many albums throughout his career, both as a band leader and as a sideman (a musician who plays with other artists).
Albums as a Leader
- 1957: The Jazz We Heard Last Summer (shared with Herbie Mann)
- 1957: Jazz Sahib
- 1963: Sahib's Jazz Party
- 1964: Summer Dawn
- 1965: Sahib Shihab and the Danish Radio Jazz Group
- 1968: Seeds
- 1964-70: Companionship
- 1972: Sentiments
- 1972: La Marche dans le Désert - Sahib Shihab + Gilson Unit
- 1973: Flute Summit (with Jeremy Steig, James Moody and Chris Hinze)
- 1988: Soul Mates (with Charlie Rouse)
- 1998: And All Those Cats (a collection of his music)
