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{{Short description|American free jazz and avant-garde drummer}}
{{Short description|American free jazz and avant-garde drummer (1933–2009)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Rashied Ali
| name = Rashied Ali
| image = Rashied Ali.jpg
| image = Rashied Ali.jpg
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| landscape = yes
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Robert Patterson
| birth_name = Robert Patterson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|07|01}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|07|01}}
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| birth_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2009|08|12|1933|07|01}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2009|08|12|1933|07|01}}
| death_place =New York City
| death_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| occupation = Musician
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Drums
| instrument = Drums
| years_active = 1963–2009
| years_active = 1963–2009
| label = [[Tzadik Records|Tzadik]]
| label = [[Tzadik Records|Tzadik]]
| associated_acts = [[John Coltrane]], [[Phalanx (band)|Phalanx]]
| past_member_of = [[Phalanx (band)|Phalanx]]
| website = {{URL|rashiedali.org}}
| website = {{URL|rashiedali.org}}
}}
}}


'''Rashied Ali''', born '''Robert Patterson''' (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009)<ref name="Grimes">{{cite web| last1=Grimes|first1=William|title=Rashied Ali, Jazz Drummer, Dies|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/rashied-ali-jazz-drummer-dies/?hp|website=The New York Times|access-date=15 September 2017|date=13 August 2009}}</ref> was an American [[free jazz]] and [[Avant-garde jazz|avant-garde]] drummer best known for playing with [[John Coltrane]] in the last years of Coltrane's life.<ref name="RCJE">{{cite book|last1=Cook|first1=Richard|title=Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/richardcooksjazz00rich|url-access=registration|date=2005| publisher=Penguin|location=London|isbn=0-141-00646-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/richardcooksjazz00rich/page/7 7]|edition=1. publ.}}</ref>
'''Rashied Ali''', born '''Robert Patterson''' (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009),<ref name="Grimes">{{cite news| last1=Grimes|first1=William|author-link=William Grimes (journalist)|title=Rashied Ali, Jazz Drummer, Dies|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/rashied-ali-jazz-drummer-dies/?hp|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=15 September 2017|date=13 August 2009}}</ref> was an American [[free jazz]] and [[Avant-garde jazz|avant-garde]] drummer who was best known for performing with [[John Coltrane]] in the last years of Coltrane's life.<ref name="RCJE">{{cite book|last1=Cook|first1=Richard|author-link=Richard Cook (journalist)|title=Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/richardcooksjazz00rich|url-access=registration|date=2005| publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=London|isbn=0-141-00646-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/richardcooksjazz00rich/page/7 7]|edition=1. publ.}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Patterson was born and raised in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania. His family was musical; his mother sang with [[Jimmie Lunceford]].<ref name="Wilmer">{{cite book|last1=Wilmer|first1=Valerie|title=As Serious as Your Life: The Story of the New Jazz|date=1977|publisher=Allison & Busby|location=London|isbn=0-85031-224-8|page=259}}</ref> His brother, [[Muhammad Ali (drummer)|Muhammad Ali]], is also a drummer, who played with [[Albert Ayler]]. Ali, his brother, and his father converted to Islam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jazz.com/encyclopedia/2009/8/14/ali-rashied-patterson-jr-robert |title=Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians |publisher=Jazz.com |access-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918083740/http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/2009/8/14/ali-rashied-patterson-jr-robert |archive-date=September 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Patterson was born and raised in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania. His family was musical; his mother sang with [[Jimmie Lunceford]].<ref name="Wilmer">{{cite book|last1=Wilmer|first1=Valerie|author-link=Valerie Wilmer|title=As Serious as Your Life: The Story of the New Jazz|date=1977|publisher=[[Allison & Busby]]|location=London|isbn=0-85031-224-8|page=259}}</ref> His brother, [[Muhammad Ali (drummer)|Muhammad Ali]], is also a drummer, who played with [[Albert Ayler]]. Ali, his brother, and his father converted to Islam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jazz.com/encyclopedia/2009/8/14/ali-rashied-patterson-jr-robert |title=Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians |publisher=Jazz.com |access-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918083740/http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/2009/8/14/ali-rashied-patterson-jr-robert |archive-date=September 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


Starting off as a pianist he eventually took up the drums, via trumpet and trombone. He joined the [[United States Army]] and played with military bands during the [[Korean War]]. After his military service, he returned home and studied with [[Philly Joe Jones]],<ref name="Grimes" /> then toured with [[Sonny Rollins]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-rashied-ali17-2009aug17-story.html|title=Rashied Ali dies at 76; free-jazz drummer backed John Coltrane|date=2009-08-17|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>
Starting off as a pianist, he eventually took up the drums, via trumpet and trombone. He joined the [[United States Army]] and played with military bands during the [[Korean War]]. After his military service, he returned home and studied with [[Philly Joe Jones]],<ref name="Grimes" /> then toured with [[Sonny Rollins]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-rashied-ali17-2009aug17-story.html|title=Rashied Ali dies at 76; free-jazz drummer backed John Coltrane|date=2009-08-17|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>


===Career===
===Career===
Ali moved to New York in 1963 and worked in groups with [[Bill Dixon]] and [[Paul Bley]].<ref name="Wilmer" />{{rp|171}} He was scheduled to be the second drummer alongside [[Elvin Jones]] on [[John Coltrane]]'s free jazz album ''[[Ascension (John Coltrane album)|Ascension]]'', but he dropped out just before the recording was to take place.<ref name="Grimes "/> Coltrane did not replace him and settled for one drummer. Ali recorded with Coltrane beginning in 1965 on the album ''[[Meditations (John Coltrane album)|Meditations]]''.
Ali moved to New York in 1963 and worked in groups with [[Bill Dixon]] and [[Paul Bley]].<ref name="Wilmer" />{{rp|171}} He was scheduled to be the second drummer alongside [[Elvin Jones]] on [[John Coltrane]]'s free jazz album ''[[Ascension (John Coltrane album)|Ascension]]'', but he dropped out just before the recording was to take place.<ref name="Grimes "/> Coltrane did not replace him and settled for one drummer. Ali recorded with Coltrane beginning in 1965 on the album ''[[Meditations (John Coltrane album)|Meditations]]''.


Among his credits are the last recorded work by Coltrane (''[[The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording|The Olatunji Concert]]'') and ''[[Interstellar Space]]'', an album of duets recorded earlier in 1967. Ali "became important in stimulating the most avant-garde kinds of jazz activities,"<ref name="Litweiler">{{cite book|last1=Litweiler|first1=John|title=The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958|date=1984|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York, N.Y.|isbn=0-306-80377-1|page=104}}</ref> playing what Coltrane described as "multi-directional rhythms".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsjournal.com/jazzbeyondjazz/2009/08/rashied_ali_1935_-_2009_multi.html|title=Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks|date=2009-08-13|website=Jazz Beyond Jazz|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> After Coltrane's death, Ali performed with his widow, pianist [[Alice Coltrane]].<ref name="Grimes "/> During the early 1970s, he ran Ali's Alley, a loft club in New York City.<ref name="wynn">{{cite book|editor1-last=Wynn|editor1-first=Ron|editor2-last=Erlewine|editor2-first=Michael|editor3-last=Bogdanov|editor3-first=Vladimir|title=All Music Guide to Jazz: The Best CDs, Albums & Tapes|date=1994|publisher=Miller Freeman|location=San Francisco|isbn=0-87930-308-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/allmusicguidetoj00wynn}}</ref>
Among his credits are the last recorded work by Coltrane (''[[The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording|The Olatunji Concert]]'') and ''[[Interstellar Space]]'', an album of duets recorded earlier in 1967. Ali "became important in stimulating the most avant-garde kinds of jazz activities,"<ref name="Litweiler">{{cite book|last1=Litweiler|first1=John|title=The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958|date=1984|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York, N.Y.|isbn=0-306-80377-1|page=104}}</ref> playing what Coltrane described as "multi-directional rhythms".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsjournal.com/jazzbeyondjazz/2009/08/rashied_ali_1935_-_2009_multi.html|title=Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks|date=2009-08-13|website=Jazz Beyond Jazz|interviewer=[[Howard Mandel (jazz critic)|Howard Mandel]]|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> After Coltrane's death, Ali performed with his widow, pianist [[Alice Coltrane]].<ref name="Grimes "/> During the early 1970s, he ran Ali's Alley, a loft club in New York City,<ref name="wynn">{{cite book|editor1-last=Wynn|editor1-first=Ron|editor-link=Ron Wynn|editor2-last=Erlewine|editor2-first=Michael|editor3-last=Bogdanov|editor3-first=Vladimir|title=All Music Guide to Jazz: The Best CDs, Albums & Tapes|date=1994|publisher=Miller Freeman|location=San Francisco|isbn=0-87930-308-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/allmusicguidetoj00wynn}}</ref> and founded his own label, [[Survival Records]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://downbeat.com/news/detail/drummer-rashied-alis-survival-guide |title=The Durability Of Drummer Rashied Ali's Survival Records |first=Alex W. |last=Rodríguez |date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[DownBeat]] |access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://jazztimes.com/blog/survival-records-returns-with-new-jazz-releases |title=Survival Records Returns with New Jazz Releases |date=January 22, 2020 |website=JazzTimes |access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/19/obituary-rashied-ali|title=Obituary: Rashied Ali|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|first=Richard|last=Williams|author-link=Richard Williams (journalist)|date=August 19, 2009}}</ref>
[[File:Rashied Ali 1991.jpg|thumb|left|Rashied Ali in a duo with Billy Bang at the Koncept Cultural Gallery, Oakland, California, July 26, 1991]]
[[File:Rashied Ali 1991.jpg|thumb|right|Ali in a duo with [[Billy Bang]] at the Koncept Cultural Gallery, [[Oakland, California]], July 26, 1991]]


He was a visiting artist at [[Wesleyan University]], sponsored by [[Clifford Thornton]]. He also briefly formed a non-jazz group called Purple Trap with Japanese experimental guitarist [[Keiji Haino]] and jazz-fusion bassist [[Bill Laswell]]. Their album, ''Decided...Already the Motionless Heart of Tranquility, Tangling the Prayer Called "I"'', was released by [[Tzadik Records]] in March 1999.
He was a visiting artist at [[Wesleyan University]], sponsored by [[Clifford Thornton]]. Ali also briefly formed a non-jazz group called Purple Trap with Japanese experimental guitarist [[Keiji Haino]] and jazz-fusion bassist [[Bill Laswell]]. Their album, ''Decided...Already the Motionless Heart of Tranquility, Tangling the Prayer Called "I"'', was released by [[Tzadik Records]] in March 1999.


In the 1980s, he was member of [[Phalanx (band)|Phalanx]], a group with guitarist [[James Blood Ulmer]], tenor saxophonist [[George Adams (musician)|George Adams]], and bassist [[Sirone (musician)|Sirone]].<ref name="LarkinJazz">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=10}}</ref> From 1997 to 2003 he played extensively with [[Tisziji Munoz]] in a group that usually included [[Pharoah Sanders]].
During the 1980s, he was member of [[Phalanx (band)|Phalanx]], a group with guitarist [[James Blood Ulmer]], tenor saxophonist [[George Adams (musician)|George Adams]], and bassist [[Sirone (musician)|Sirone]].<ref name="LarkinJazz">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Larkin, Colin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=10}}</ref>


Though known for his work in jazz, Ali contributed to other experimental art forms, including multi-media performances with the Gift of Eagle Orchestra and Cosmic Legends, performances such as Devachan and the Monads, Dwarf of Oblivion, which took place at [[The Kitchen|The Kitchen Center for Performance Art]], and a tribute to [[John Cage]] in New York's [[Central Park#Concerts and performances|Central Park]]. Other artists of the orchestra and Cosmic Legends have included Hayes Greenfield (sax), [[Perry Robinson]] (clarinet), Wayne Lopes (guitar), [[Dave Douglas (trumpeter)]], Gloria Tropp (vocals), Louise Landes Levi (sarangi)director/pianist Sylvie Degiez along with poets and actors [[Ira Cohen]], [[Taylor Mead]], and [[Judith Malina]].
In 1985, Ali performed with the band There Goes the Neighborhood with [[Jaco Pastorius]], [[Jorma Kaukonen]], Doug McClean, Whitie Melvin, and [[Ben Prevo]].<ref>Kaukonen, Jorma. ''Been So Long: My Life and Music''. New York: St Martin's Press, 2018</ref> From 1997 to 2003 he played extensively with [[Tisziji Munoz]] in a group that usually included [[Pharoah Sanders]].
Though known for his work in jazz, Ali contributed to other experimental art forms, including multi-media performances with the Gift of Eagle Orchestra and Cosmic Legends, performances such as Devachan and the Monads, Dwarf of Oblivion, which took place at [[The Kitchen|The Kitchen Center for Performance Art]], and a tribute to [[John Cage]] in New York's [[Central Park#Concerts and performances|Central Park]]. Other artists of the orchestra and Cosmic Legends have included Hayes Greenfield (sax), [[Perry Robinson]] (clarinet), Wayne Lopes (guitar), [[Dave Douglas (trumpeter)]], Gloria Tropp (vocals), Louise Landes Levi (sarangi), director/pianist Sylvie Degiez along with poets and actors [[Ira Cohen]], [[Taylor Mead]], and [[Judith Malina]].


===Later life===
===Later life===
In the last years of his life, Ali led his own quintet. A double album entitled ''Judgment Day'' was recorded in February 2005 and features Jumaane Smith on trumpet, Lawrence Clark on tenor saxophone, Greg Murphy on piano, and [[Joris Teepe]] on bass. This album was recorded at Ali's own Survival Studio, which has been in existence since the 1970s. In addition to his performance activities Ali served as mentor to young drummers such as Matt Smith.
During the last years of his life, Ali led his own quintet. A double album entitled ''[[Judgment Day (album)|Judgment Day]]'' was recorded in February 2005 and features Jumaane Smith on trumpet, Lawrence Clark on tenor saxophone, Greg Murphy on piano, and [[Joris Teepe]] on bass. This album was recorded at Ali's own Survival Studio, which has been in existence since the 1970s.
In addition to his performance activities, Ali served as mentor to young drummers such as Matt Smith.


In 2007, Ali recorded ''[[Going to the Ritual]]'' in duo with bassist/violinist [[Henry Grimes]] with a second duo recording in post-production at the time of Ali's death. Ali and Grimes also played five duo concerts together between 2007 and 2009 and a sixth concert in June 2007 with pianist [[Marilyn Crispell]]. Ali is the featured drummer on [[Azar Lawrence]]'s album ''Mystic Journey'', recorded in April 2009 and released in May 2010.
In 2007, Ali recorded ''[[Going to the Ritual]]'' in duo with bassist/violinist [[Henry Grimes]] with a second duo recording in post-production at the time of Ali's death. Ali and Grimes also played five duo concerts together between 2007 and 2009 and a sixth concert in June 2007 with pianist [[Marilyn Crispell]]. Ali is the featured drummer on [[Azar Lawrence]]'s album ''Mystic Journey'', recorded in April 2009 and released in May 2010.


==Death==
Rashied Ali died at age 76 in a Manhattan hospital after suffering a heart attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inlog.org/2009/08/13/r-i-p-rashied-ali-1935-2009/ |title=R.I.P. Rashied Ali (1935–2009) |publisher=Inlog.org |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=2011-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizenjazz.com/article3462906.html |title=Le batteur de jazz Rashied Ali est mort |location=fr |publisher=Citizenjazz.com |access-date=2011-10-01}}</ref> He is survived by wife Patricia and three children.
Rashied Ali died at the age of 76 in a [[Manhattan]] hospital after suffering a heart attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inlog.org/2009/08/13/r-i-p-rashied-ali-1935-2009/ |title=R.I.P. Rashied Ali (1935–2009) |publisher=Inlog.org |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=2011-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizenjazz.com/article3462906.html |title=Le batteur de jazz Rashied Ali est mort |location=fr |publisher=Citizenjazz.com |access-date=2011-10-01}}</ref> He was survived by wife Patricia and three children.


==Discography==
==Discography==


===As leader or co-leader===
===As leader or co-leader===
* 1971 – ''[[New Directions in Modern Music]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[Carlos Ward]], Fred Simmons, [[Stafford James]]
* 1973 – ''[[Duo Exchange]]'' ([[Survival Records|Survival]], reissued by Knit Classics) with [[Frank Lowe]]
* 1972 – ''[[Duo Exchange]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[Frank Lowe]]
* 1973 – ''[[Rashied Ali Quintet]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[James Blood Ulmer]]
* 1975 – ''[[Swift Are the Winds of Life]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[Leroy Jenkins (jazz musician)|Leroy Jenkins]]
* 1973 – ''[[New Directions in Modern Music]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[Carlos Ward]], Fred Simmons, [[Stafford James]]
* 1973 – ''Rashied Ali Quintet'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[James Blood Ulmer]]
* 1976 – ''[[Moon Flight]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics)
* 1976 – ''[[N.Y. Ain't So Bad]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics)
* 1974 – ''Moon Flight'' ([[Knitting Factory]])
* 1975 – ''N.Y. Ain't So Bad'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics)
* 1976 – ''[[Swift Are the Winds of Life]]'' (Survival, reissued by Knit Classics) with [[Leroy Jenkins (jazz musician)|Leroy Jenkins]]
* 1989 – ''Rashied Ali in France'' (Blue Music Group)
* 1989 – ''Rashied Ali in France'' (Blue Music Group)
* 1994 – ''Island Universe'' (Soul Note, 1994) with Jeff Palmer, [[Arthur Blythe]], and [[John Abercrombie (guitarist)|John Abercrombie]]
* 1994 – ''Island Universe'' (Soul Note) with Jeff Palmer, [[Arthur Blythe]], and [[John Abercrombie (guitarist)|John Abercrombie]]
* 1996 – ''The October Revolution'' (Evidence) with [[Joe McPhee]], [[Borah Bergman]], and [[Wilber Morris]]
* 1996 – ''[[The October Revolution (album)|The October Revolution]]'' (Evidence) with [[Joe McPhee]], [[Borah Bergman]], and [[Wilber Morris]]
* 1997 – ''Live'' (Zero In) with [[Ivo Perelman]] and [[William Parker (musician)|William Parker]]
* 1997 – ''Live'' (Zero In) with [[Ivo Perelman]] and [[William Parker (musician)|William Parker]]
* 1999 – ''Rings of Saturn'' (Knitting Factory), duets with tenor saxophonist Louie Belogenis
* 1999 – ''[[Rings of Saturn (Rashied Ali and Louie Belogenis album)|Rings of Saturn]]'' (Knitting Factory), duets with tenor saxophonist Louie Belogenis
* 1999 – ''Decided... Already the Motionless Heart of Tranquility, Tangling the Prayer Called "I"'' (Tzadik) with Purple Trap ([[Bill Laswell]], [[Keiji Haino]], Ali)
* 1999 – ''Decided... Already the Motionless Heart of Tranquility, Tangling the Prayer Called "I"'' (Tzadik) with Purple Trap ([[Bill Laswell]], [[Keiji Haino]], Ali)
* 2000 – ''Live at Tonic'' ([[DIW Records|DIW]]) with [[Wilber Morris]] and Louie Belogenis
* 2001 – ''[[Live at Tonic (Rashied Ali, Louis Belogenis, and Wilber Morris album)|Live at Tonic]]'' ([[DIW Records|DIW]]) with [[Wilber Morris]] and Louie Belogenis
* 2001 – ''Deals, Ideas & Ideals'' (Hopscotch) with [[Peter Kowald]] and [[Assif Tsahar]]
* 2001 – ''[[Deals, Ideas & Ideals]]'' (Hopscotch) with [[Peter Kowald]] and [[Assif Tsahar]]
* 2001 – ''No One in Particular'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2001 – ''[[No One in Particular]]'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2006 – ''Judgment Day Vol. 1'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2004 – ''[[The Dynamic Duo Remember Trane and Bird]]'' ([[Ayler Records|Ayler]]) with [[Arthur Rhames]]
* 2006 – ''Judgment Day Vol. 2'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2006 – ''[[Judgment Day (album)|Judgment Day Vol. 1]]'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2006 – ''[[Judgment Day (album)|Judgment Day Vol. 2]]'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2008 – ''[[Going to the Ritual]]'' ([[Porter Records|Porter]]) with bassist [[Henry Grimes]]
* 2008 – ''[[Going to the Ritual]]'' ([[Porter Records|Porter]]) with bassist [[Henry Grimes]]
* 2009 – ''At the Vision Festival'' with [[Greg Tardy]], [[James Hurt]], [[Omer Avital]] (Blue Music Group)
* 2009 – ''At the Vision Festival'' (Blue Music Group) with [[Greg Tardy]], [[James Hurt]], [[Omer Avital]]
* 2009 – ''Eddie Jefferson at Ali's Alley'' with [[Eddie Jefferson]] (Blue Music Group)
* 2009 – ''Eddie Jefferson at Ali's Alley'' (Blue Music Group) with [[Eddie Jefferson]]
* 2009 – ''Cutt'n Korners'' with Greg Tardy, Antoine Drye and [[Abraham Burton]] (Blue Music Group)
* 2009 – ''Cutt'n Korners'' (Blue Music Group) with Greg Tardy, Antoine Drye and [[Abraham Burton]]
* 2009 – ''Live in Europe'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2009 – ''[[Live in Europe (Rashied Ali Quintet album)|Live in Europe]]'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2010 – ''[[Spirits Aloft]]'' (Porter) with bassist Henry Grimes
* 2010 – ''[[Spirits Aloft]]'' (Porter) with bassist Henry Grimes
* 2020 – ''[[First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967]]'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet
* 2020 – ''[[First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967]]'' (Survival) with Rashied Ali Quintet


'''With Afro Algonquin (Lee Rozie, Rick Rozie, Ali)'''
'''With Afro Algonquin (Lee Rozie, Rick Rozie, Ali)'''
* ''Afro Algonquin'' (Moers, 1980)
* 1980 – ''Afro Algonquin'' (Moers)


'''With By Any Means ([[Charles Gayle]], [[William Parker (musician)|William Parker]], Ali)'''
'''With By Any Means ([[Charles Gayle]], [[William Parker (musician)|William Parker]], Ali)'''
* 1993 – ''[[Touchin' on Trane]]'' (FMP)
* 1993 – ''[[Touchin' on Trane]]'' (FMP)
* 2008 – ''Live at Crescendo'' (Ayler Records)
* 2008 – ''[[Live at Crescendo]]'' (Ayler Records)


'''With Prima Materia'''
'''With Prima Materia'''
Line 94: Line 101:
*''[[Songlines (Peter Brötzmann, Fred Hopkins, and Rashied Ali album)|Songlines]]'' (FMP, 1994)
*''[[Songlines (Peter Brötzmann, Fred Hopkins, and Rashied Ali album)|Songlines]]'' (FMP, 1994)


'''With [[Michael Bocian]]'''
'''With Michael Bocian'''
*''Go Groove'' (1991)
*''Go Groove'' (1991)


Line 117: Line 124:
*''[[The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording]]'' (Impulse!, 1967)
*''[[The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording]]'' (Impulse!, 1967)
*''[[Cosmic Music]]'' (Impulse!, 1968)
*''[[Cosmic Music]]'' (Impulse!, 1968)

'''With [[Hal Galper]]'''
* ''Art Work'' (Origin, 2009)


'''With [[Rudolph Grey]]'''
'''With [[Rudolph Grey]]'''
* ''Implosion '73'' (New Alliance, 1991)
* ''Implosion '73'' (New Alliance, 1991)
* ''Mask of Light'' (New Alliance, 1991)
* ''Mask of Light'' (New Alliance, 1991)

'''With the John Lewis Sound'''
* ''Get to This Y'all!'' (Miles Ahead, 2003)


'''With [[Jackie McLean]]'''
'''With [[Jackie McLean]]'''
Line 161: Line 174:


'''With Andrew Sterman'''
'''With Andrew Sterman'''
* ''Blue Canvas with Spiral'' (Breat River, 2003)
* ''Blue Canvas with Spiral'' (Breath River, 2003)


'''With Stoker'''
'''With Stoker'''
Line 180: Line 193:
==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.rashiedali.org Official site]
* [http://www.rashiedali.org Official site]
* Patrick Jarenwattananon, [https://www.npr.org/sections/ablogsupreme/2009/08/the_revolutions_of_drummer_ras_1.html "The Revolutions Of Drummer Rashied Ali"], [[NPR]], August 13, 2009.



{{Rashied Ali}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:DIW Records artists]]
[[Category:DIW Records artists]]
[[Category:Free jazz drummers]]
[[Category:Free jazz drummers]]
[[Category:Musicians from New York City]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from New York City]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
⚫
[[Category:Jazz musicians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
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Latest revision as of 21:49, 14 November 2024

Rashied Ali
Background information
Birth nameRobert Patterson
Born(1933-07-01)July 1, 1933
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 12, 2009(2009-08-12) (aged 76)
New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1963–2009
LabelsTzadik
Formerly ofPhalanx
Websiterashiedali.org

Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009),[1] was an American free jazz and avant-garde drummer who was best known for performing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.[2]

Biography

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Early life

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Patterson was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family was musical; his mother sang with Jimmie Lunceford.[3] His brother, Muhammad Ali, is also a drummer, who played with Albert Ayler. Ali, his brother, and his father converted to Islam.[4]

Starting off as a pianist, he eventually took up the drums, via trumpet and trombone. He joined the United States Army and played with military bands during the Korean War. After his military service, he returned home and studied with Philly Joe Jones,[1] then toured with Sonny Rollins.[5]

Career

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Ali moved to New York in 1963 and worked in groups with Bill Dixon and Paul Bley.[3]: 171  He was scheduled to be the second drummer alongside Elvin Jones on John Coltrane's free jazz album Ascension, but he dropped out just before the recording was to take place.[1] Coltrane did not replace him and settled for one drummer. Ali recorded with Coltrane beginning in 1965 on the album Meditations.

Among his credits are the last recorded work by Coltrane (The Olatunji Concert) and Interstellar Space, an album of duets recorded earlier in 1967. Ali "became important in stimulating the most avant-garde kinds of jazz activities,"[6] playing what Coltrane described as "multi-directional rhythms".[7] After Coltrane's death, Ali performed with his widow, pianist Alice Coltrane.[1] During the early 1970s, he ran Ali's Alley, a loft club in New York City,[8] and founded his own label, Survival Records.[9][10][11]

Ali in a duo with Billy Bang at the Koncept Cultural Gallery, Oakland, California, July 26, 1991

He was a visiting artist at Wesleyan University, sponsored by Clifford Thornton. Ali also briefly formed a non-jazz group called Purple Trap with Japanese experimental guitarist Keiji Haino and jazz-fusion bassist Bill Laswell. Their album, Decided...Already the Motionless Heart of Tranquility, Tangling the Prayer Called "I", was released by Tzadik Records in March 1999.

During the 1980s, he was member of Phalanx, a group with guitarist James Blood Ulmer, tenor saxophonist George Adams, and bassist Sirone.[12]

In 1985, Ali performed with the band There Goes the Neighborhood with Jaco Pastorius, Jorma Kaukonen, Doug McClean, Whitie Melvin, and Ben Prevo.[13] From 1997 to 2003 he played extensively with Tisziji Munoz in a group that usually included Pharoah Sanders.

Though known for his work in jazz, Ali contributed to other experimental art forms, including multi-media performances with the Gift of Eagle Orchestra and Cosmic Legends, performances such as Devachan and the Monads, Dwarf of Oblivion, which took place at The Kitchen Center for Performance Art, and a tribute to John Cage in New York's Central Park. Other artists of the orchestra and Cosmic Legends have included Hayes Greenfield (sax), Perry Robinson (clarinet), Wayne Lopes (guitar), Dave Douglas (trumpeter), Gloria Tropp (vocals), Louise Landes Levi (sarangi), director/pianist Sylvie Degiez along with poets and actors Ira Cohen, Taylor Mead, and Judith Malina.

Later life

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During the last years of his life, Ali led his own quintet. A double album entitled Judgment Day was recorded in February 2005 and features Jumaane Smith on trumpet, Lawrence Clark on tenor saxophone, Greg Murphy on piano, and Joris Teepe on bass. This album was recorded at Ali's own Survival Studio, which has been in existence since the 1970s.

In addition to his performance activities, Ali served as mentor to young drummers such as Matt Smith.

In 2007, Ali recorded Going to the Ritual in duo with bassist/violinist Henry Grimes with a second duo recording in post-production at the time of Ali's death. Ali and Grimes also played five duo concerts together between 2007 and 2009 and a sixth concert in June 2007 with pianist Marilyn Crispell. Ali is the featured drummer on Azar Lawrence's album Mystic Journey, recorded in April 2009 and released in May 2010.

Death

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Rashied Ali died at the age of 76 in a Manhattan hospital after suffering a heart attack.[14][15] He was survived by wife Patricia and three children.

Discography

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As leader or co-leader

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With Afro Algonquin (Lee Rozie, Rick Rozie, Ali)

  • 1980 – Afro Algonquin (Moers)

With By Any Means (Charles Gayle, William Parker, Ali)

With Prima Materia

  • 1994 – Peace on Earth: The Music of John Coltrane (Knitting Factory) with guests John Zorn, Allan Chase
  • 1995 – Meditations (Knitting Factory)
  • 1995 – Bells (Knitting Factory)
  • 2009 – Configurations: The Music of John Coltrane (Blue Music Group)

As sideman

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With Gary Bartz

With Peter Brötzmann

With Michael Bocian

  • Go Groove (1991)

With Marion Brown

With Alice Coltrane

With John Coltrane

With Hal Galper

  • Art Work (Origin, 2009)

With Rudolph Grey

  • Implosion '73 (New Alliance, 1991)
  • Mask of Light (New Alliance, 1991)

With the John Lewis Sound

  • Get to This Y'all! (Miles Ahead, 2003)

With Jackie McLean

With Tisziji Munoz

  • The River of Blood (Anami Music, 1997)
  • Present Without A Trace (Anami Music, 1997)
  • Spirit World (Anami Music, 1997)
  • Presence of Truth (Anami Music, 1999)
  • Presence of Joy (Anami Music, 1999)
  • Presence of Mastery (Anami Music, 1999)
  • Breaking the Wheel of Life and Death (Anami Music, 2000)
  • Parallel Reality (Anami Music, 2000)
  • The Hu-Man Spirit (Anami Music, 2001)
  • Shaman-Bala (Anami Music, 2002)
  • Divine Radiance (Anami Music, 2003)
  • Divine Radiance Live! (Anami Music, 2013)
  • Paul Shaffer Presents: Tisziji Muñoz – Divine Radiance Live! DVD (Anami Music, 2013)
  • Sky Worlds (Anami Music, 2014)

With David Murray

With Phalanx

With Henry Rollins

With the Saheb Sarbib Quintet

  • It Couldn't Happen Without You (Soul Note, 1984)

With Archie Shepp

With Alan Shorter

  • Orgasm (Verve, 1968; reissued in 1969 as Parabolic)

With Andrew Sterman

  • Blue Canvas with Spiral (Breath River, 2003)

With Stoker

  • Syncopate (Douglas Music, 1997)

With the Joris Teepe Big Band

  • We Take No Prisoners (Challenge, 2009)

With James Blood Ulmer

With Frank Wright

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Grimes, William (August 13, 2009). "Rashied Ali, Jazz Drummer, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  2. ^ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (1. publ. ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 7. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.
  3. ^ a b Wilmer, Valerie (1977). As Serious as Your Life: The Story of the New Jazz. London: Allison & Busby. p. 259. ISBN 0-85031-224-8.
  4. ^ "Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians". Jazz.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  5. ^ "Rashied Ali dies at 76; free-jazz drummer backed John Coltrane". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  6. ^ Litweiler, John (1984). The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958. New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. p. 104. ISBN 0-306-80377-1.
  7. ^ "Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks". Jazz Beyond Jazz. Interviewed by Howard Mandel. August 13, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  8. ^ Wynn, Ron; Erlewine, Michael; Bogdanov, Vladimir, eds. (1994). All Music Guide to Jazz: The Best CDs, Albums & Tapes. San Francisco: Miller Freeman. ISBN 0-87930-308-5.
  9. ^ Rodríguez, Alex W. (May 20, 2020). "The Durability Of Drummer Rashied Ali's Survival Records". DownBeat. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "Survival Records Returns with New Jazz Releases". JazzTimes. January 22, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Williams, Richard (August 19, 2009). "Obituary: Rashied Ali". The Guardian.
  12. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  13. ^ Kaukonen, Jorma. Been So Long: My Life and Music. New York: St Martin's Press, 2018
  14. ^ "R.I.P. Rashied Ali (1935–2009)". Inlog.org. August 13, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  15. ^ "Le batteur de jazz Rashied Ali est mort". fr: Citizenjazz.com. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
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