Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr
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| Birth name | Russell Linwood Thomas |
| Born | March 22, 1935 Harlem, New York U.S. |
| Died | February 15, 2017 (aged 81) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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Al-Hajj Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr (born Russell Linwood Thomas; March 22, 1935 – February 15, 2017) was an amazing American-Canadian musician. He played many instruments, including the saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He was also a talented composer.
Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr toured the world with the famous jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie from 1983 to 1987. He even appeared with Gillespie in two movies, A Night in Havana and A Night in Chicago. He holds a special record: he is the only person to play every saxophone part in the famous Duke Ellington Orchestra.
In 2011, a special concert was held in Montreal to celebrate his contributions to jazz music. Many people saw him as a very important figure in Montreal's jazz community.
A Musician's Journey
Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr was born Russell Linwood Thomas in Harlem, New York. He later moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he lived for most of his life. In 1965, he became a Canadian citizen. He changed his name to Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr in 1971 when he converted to Islam.
As a teenager, he studied clarinet and saxophone in New York City. In 1954, he visited Montreal with another musician, Snub Mosley. He liked Montreal so much that he decided to stay. He played in various nightclubs and even led his own band.
From 1957 to 1970, he lived in Ottawa. During this time, he was part of groups like the Canadian Jazz Quartet and the Ottawa Saxophone Quartet. He also led his own orchestra at the Gatineau Country Club. He often appeared on CBC television and radio shows as a guest musician.
From 1970 to 1980, he returned to Montreal. He became a teacher in the Jazz Music department at the Université de Montréal. He taught many students who later became successful musicians. He also performed in different music groups, including TRIO 3. He even had his own jazz club called Café Mo-Jo.
During the 1980s, he spent time between Montreal and New York City. He was a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra for several years. From 1983 to 1987, he played with the Dizzy Gillespie Quartet. His son, Nasyr, played drums in this group too. They toured all over the world together.
Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr was the only musician to play all the different saxophone parts in the Duke Ellington Orchestra. This included the baritone, tenor, and alto saxophones.
He also recorded and performed with many other famous musicians. Some of these include Tony Bennett, Tito Puente, Milt Jackson, and Pharoah Sanders. In 1991, he was featured in a short film called One Drinks the Other Doesn't.
He often performed at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal with his sons and other musicians. A special tribute concert was held for him at this festival in 2011.
Family Life
Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr married in 1955. He and his wife had five children. All of their children could play musical instruments well. Two of his sons, Nasyr and Muhammad, became professional musicians and music teachers, just like their father. His daughter is married to Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Kenny Garrett.
In 1971, Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr and his family converted to Islam. He later became an Imam, which is a Muslim religious leader. Through their shared faith, he became good friends with the famous boxer Muhammad Ali. Ali would often stay at Sayyd's home in Mount Royal, Quebec when he visited the area.
In the late 1990s, Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr moved back to Montreal. After experiencing some health issues in 2001 and 2004, he stopped performing music.
