Pheeroan akLaff explained

Pheeroan akLaff
Landscape:yes
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Date:27 January 1955
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Drums, percussion

Pheeroan akLaff (born Paul Maddox; January 27, 1955) is an American jazz drummer and percussionist.[1] [2] [3] He began playing in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan and Ann Arbor, with R & B keyboardist Travis Biggs, funk keyboardist Nimrod “The Grinder” Lumpkin, The Ebony Set and The Last Days. He moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and formed a group with saxophonist/flautist/percussionist Dwight Andrews. He debuted with saxophonist Bill Barron in 1975, followed by a tenure in Leo Smith's ‘New Dalta Ahkri’ (1977-1979).[4]

akLaff developed a longstanding association with saxophonist and poet Oliver Lake starting in 1975, which included writing for their fusion ensemble, ‘Jump Up’. He recorded with Lake on and off from 1980-1992. His extensive work as a session musician includes collaborations with prominent jazz musicians Geri Allen, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton, Don Byron, Julius Hemphill, Henry Threadgill, Mal Waldron, Sonny Sharrock, Anthony Davis and Reggie Workman.[5] In 2006 he co-founded Seed Artists in Brooklyn. In 2009, he reestablished his creative partnership with Wadada Leo Smith after thirty years, and has recorded with him since, including Ten Freedom Summers, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2013. akLaff currently teaches music at Wesleyan University.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Geri Allen

With Anthony Braxton

With Oliver Lake

With Henry Threadgill

Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival (1984)

With Jay Hoggard

With Craig Harris

With Ray Anderson

With Don Byron

With Baikida Carroll

With Anthony Davis

With Julius Hemphill

With Uwe Kropinski

With Roscoe Mitchell

With Amina Claudine Myers

With Sonny Sharrock

With Wadada Leo Smith

With Mal Waldron

With Reggie Workman

With Yōsuke Yamashita

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kernfeld, Barry. The new Grove dictionary of jazz, vol. 1. 2002. Grove's Dictionaries Inc.. New York. 1561592846. 2nd. Barry Kernfeld. 22–23. akLaff, Pheeroan.
  2. Book: Cook, Richard. 2005. Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. Penguin Books. London. 0-141-00646-3. 5.
  3. Web site: About Pheeroan. 2021-05-01. pheeroanaklaff.com.
  4. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p50789|pure_url=yes}} Pheeroan akLaff: Biography ]. Yanow . Scott . Allmusic. 2010-04-14.
  5. Web site: Iridium Jazz Club Presents Historic Jazz Concert Thursday & Friday October 26 & 27 The Cecil Taylor Trio Featuring Henry Grimes And Phreeroan akLaff . All about jazz. 2006-10-22 . 2010-04-14.