Idris Muhammad

Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad playing with Reggie Workman and Pharoah Sanders, c. 1978
Background information
Born	November 13, 1939(1939-11-13) (age 69)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genre(s)	Jazz, bebop, hardbop,funk
Occupation(s)	Drummer, composer
Instrument(s)	Drumset

Idris Muhammad (born November 13, 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana; Arabic: إدريس محمد‎) is a jazz drummer. He was born Leo Morris on November 13, 1939 before changing his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover Washington, Jr. He has been touring and recording with pianist Ahmad Jamal since 1995. At 15 years-old, one of Muhammad's earliest recorded sessions as a drummer was on Fats Domino's 1956 smash hit Blueberry Hill.

In 1966, he married Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (former member of the Crystals; she converted to Islam with him and went for a time under the name Sakinah Muhammad). They separated in 1999. Together, they have two sons and two daughters. Muhammad is an endorser of Istanbul Agop Cymbals.^[1] who issued a 22" Idris Muhammad Signature Ride in at the 2008 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.

Discography

This section requires expansion.

As leader

• 1970: Black Rhythm Revolution (Prestige Records)
• 1971: Peace & Rhythm (Prestige)
• 1974: Power of Soul
• 1976: House of the Rising Sun
• 1977: Turn This Mutha Out
• 1978: Boogie to the Top
• 1978: You Ain't No Friend of Mine
• 1979: Fox Huntin'
• 1980: Kabsha
• 1980: Make It Count
• 1992: My Turn
• 1998: Right Now

As sideman

With Benjamin Herman

• Get In (1999)

With Ernest Ranglin

• Below the Bassline (Island Records, 1998)

With Ahmad Jamal

• The Essence of Ahmad Jamal, Pt 1 (1994)
• Big Byrd: The Essence, Pt. 2 (Dreyfus, 1997)
• Nature: The Essence, Part III (Dreyfus, 1998)
• Picture Perfect (2000)
• Ahmad Jamal 70th Birthday (2000)
• In Search of Momentum (Dreyfus, 2002)
• After Fajr (Dreyfus, 2005)
• It's Magic (Dreyfus, 2008)

With John Scofield

• Groove Elation (1995)

With Leon Spencer

• Sneak Preview (Prestige Records, 1970)
• Louisiana Slim (Prestige, 1971)

With Rodney Jones

• Soul Manifesto (1991)

With Freddie Hubbard

• New Colors (Hip Bop Essence 2001)

With Grant Green

• Sookie Sookie (blue Breakbeats 1998)

References

External links

• Interview in Allaboutjazz
• Idris Muhammad at Allmusic
• Artist and album page of Lipstick Records