Ahmed Abdul-Malik (born Jonathan Tim, Jr.; January 30, 1927 – October 2, 1993) was an American jazz

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

ist and

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player. Abdul-Malik is remembered for integrating Middle Eastern and North African music styles in his jazz music.Kelsey, Chri
"Ahmed Abdul-Malik: Biography"
AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2017. He was a bass player for

Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...

, Earl Hines,

Randy Weston Randolph Edward "Randy" Weston (April 6, 1926 – September 1, 2018) was an American jazz pianist and composer whose creativity was inspired by his ancestral African connection. Weston's piano style owed much to Duke Ellington and Thelonious ...

, and

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...

, among others.

Early life

Abdul-Malik claimed that his father was from Sudan and moved to the United States. Research by historian

Robin Kelley Robin Davis Gibran Kelley (born March 14, 1962) is an American historian and academic, who is the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA. From 2006 to 2011, he was Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Sout ...

, however, indicates that Abdul-Malik was born to Caribbean immigrants and changed his birth name:

Ahmed Abdul-Malik was born Jonathan Tim Jr., (sometimes spelled "Timm") on January 30, 1927, to Matilda and Jonathan Tim Sr. – both of whom had immigrated from St. Vincent in the British West Indies three years earlier. They also had a daughter, Caroline, born a little more than a year after Jonathan Jr. Jonathan Tim Sr.'s death certificate not only confirms his birth in St. Vincent, it indicates that his father – Abdul-Malik's grandfather – James Tim, and his mother, Mary Daniels, were both from the Caribbean. City directories for Brooklyn, as well as the American Federation of Musicians Union Local 802 directory, confirm the bassist's birth name as Jonathan Tim Jr.Kelley, Robin D. G. (2012), ''Nathan I. Huggins Lectures: Africa Speaks, America Answers: Modern Jazz in Revolutionary Times''. Harvard University Press.

The family lived at 545 Hopkinson Avenue, but moved to 1984 Atlantic Avenue before their son began school. Jonathan, Jr. had violin lessons from his father, who was a plasterer and general laborer. Aged seven, Jonathan, Jr. attended the Vardi School of Music and Art, "to continue his violin training, and over time took up piano, cello, bass, and tuba." His parents divorced in the late 1930s, and he lived with his father and new wife, at 2117 Dean Street, but his father died on February 9, 1941, from a bleeding gastric ulcer. Jonathan, Jr. continued studying, including having lessons with local bassist Franklin Skeete, before joining

The High School of Music & Art The High School of Music & Art, informally known as "Music & Art" (or "M&A"), was a public specialized high school located at 443-465 West 135th Street in the borough of Manhattan, New York, from 1936 until 1984. In 1961, Music & Art and the High ...

in Harlem.Weston, Randy, and Willard Jenkins (2010) ''African Rhythms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston'', p. 25. Duke University Press. There, "his skills on violin and viola earned him a spot in the All-City Orchestra."

Later life

Abdul-Malik was most active as a jazz musician from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. He recorded half a dozen albums as leader, which have been described as containing a "refreshing" fusion of jazz with Arabic and African music. During this time he was also described as "a

hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...

bassist of some distinction". As an

player he did a tour of South America for the

United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...

and performed at an African jazz festival in

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

Discography

As leader

* 1958: '' Jazz Sahara'' (

Riverside Riverside may refer to: Places Australia * Riverside, Tasmania, a suburb of Launceston, Tasmania Canada * Riverside (electoral district), in the Yukon * Riverside, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Alberta * Riverside, Manitoba, a former rural m ...

) with

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

* 1959: '' East Meets West'' (RCA Victor) * 1961: ''

The Music of Ahmed Abdul-Malik ''The Music of Ahmed Abdul-Malik'' is the third album by double bassist and oud player Ahmed Abdul-Malik featuring performances recorded in 1961 and originally released on the New Jazz label.

'' (New Jazz) * 1962: ''

Sounds of Africa ''Sounds of Africa'' is the fourth album by double bassist and oud player Ahmed Abdul-Malik featuring performances recorded in 1962 (with one track from 1961) and originally released on the New Jazz label.The Eastern Moods of Ahmed Abdul-Malik'' (Prestige) * 1964: '' Spellbound'' (Status) with

Ray Nance Ray Willis Nance (December 10, 1913 – January 28, 1976) was an American jazz trumpeter, violinist and singer. He is best remembered for his long association with Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Early years Nance was the leader of his ow ...

and

Seldon Powell Seldon Powell (15 November 1928 – 25 January 1997) was an American soul jazz, swing, and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist born in Lawrenceville, Virginia. He worked with Tab Smith (1949), Lucky Millinder (1949–51), Neal Hefti, and L ...

As sideman

With

*''

The African Beat ''The African Beat'' is a jazz album released by Art Blakey and The Afro-Drum Ensemble in November 1962 on Blue Note Records. He described it as the first opportunity he had to work with drummers from Africa; as a blend of American jazz with the ...

'' (Blue Note, 1962) With

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of br ...

*''

Live! at the Village Vanguard Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music * Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of album ...

'' (Impulse!, 1961) With

Walt Dickerson Walter Roland Dickerson (April 16, 1928 – May 15, 2008) was an American jazz vibraphone player, most associated with the post-bop idiom. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Walt Dickerson graduated from Morgan State U ...

*'' Relativity'' (New Jazz, 1962) *''

Jazz Impressions of Lawrence of Arabia ''Jazz Impressions of Lawrence of Arabia'' is an album led by vibraphonist and composer Walt Dickerson featuring music from the film ''Lawrence of Arabia'' (1962) which was recorded in 1963 and first released on the Dauntless label. It was later ...

'' (Dauntless, 1963) With Earl Hines *'' 'Fatha': The New Earl Hines Trio'' (1964) *''The Real Earl Hines'' (1964) With

Jutta Hipp Jutta Hipp (February 4, 1925 – April 7, 2003) was a jazz pianist and composer. Born in Leipzig during the Weimar Republic, Hipp initially listened to jazz in secret, as it was not approved of by the Nazi authorities. After World War II, she bec ...

*''

Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims ''Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims'' is an album by German jazz pianist Jutta Hipp recorded in 1956 which was released on the Blue Note label as BLP 1530.

'' (1956) With

Odetta Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, lyricist, and a civil rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire co ...

*''

Sometimes I Feel Like Cryin' '' Sometimes I Feel Like Cryin is an album by American folk singer Odetta, released in 1962. It was her first release for RCA Victor. Track listing All tracks composed by Odetta; except where noted. #"Gonna Take My Time" #"Stranger Here" ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1962) *'' Odetta and the Blues'' (Riverside, 1962) *'' Odetta Sings the Blues'' (Riverside, 1968) With

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (inclu ...

*''

Herbie Mann at the Village Gate ''Herbie Mann at the Village Gate'' is a 1961 live album by jazz flutist Herbie Mann which was his third album for Atlantic Records, the main label for much of his career. The album was recorded at legendary club The Village Gate.Liner notes to At ...

'' (Atlantic, 1961) *''

Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate ''Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate'' is a live album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded in 1961 for the Atlantic label but not released until 1963.963 Year 963 ( CMLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * March 15 – Emperor Romanos II dies at age 25, probably of poison admini ...

With Ken McIntyre * '' Year of the Iron Sheep'' (United Artists, 1962) With

*'' Misterioso'' (Riverside, 1958) *''

Thelonious in Action ''Thelonious in Action: Recorded at the Five Spot Cafe'' is a 1958 album by jazz musician Thelonious Monk with Johnny Griffin. The album was recorded live at the Five Spot Café on August 7, 1958, at the same sessions that produced '' Misterioso ...

'' (Riverside, 1958) *'' Discovery! Live at Five Spot'' (Blue Note, 1958) *''

Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall ''At Carnegie Hall'' is a live album by The Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane. Album information It was recorded on 29 November 1957 at "Thanksgiving Jazz", a benefit concert produced by Kenneth Lee Karpe for the Morningside Community ...

'' (Blue Note, 1957, released 2005) With

Dave Pike David Samuel Pike (March 23, 1938 – October 3, 2015) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He appeared on many albums by Nick Brignola, Paul Bley and Kenny Clarke, Bill Evans, and Herbie Mann. He also recorded extensively as le ...

*''

Limbo Carnival ''Limbo Carnival'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike which was recorded in 1962 for the New Jazz label.Randy Weston Randolph Edward "Randy" Weston (April 6, 1926 – September 1, 2018) was an American jazz pianist and composer whose creativity was inspired by his ancestral African connection. Weston's piano style owed much to Duke Ellington and Thelonious ...

*'' With These Hands...'' (Riverside, 1956) *''

Jazz à la Bohemia ''Jazz à la Bohemia'' (also released as ''Greenwich Village Jazz'') is a live album by American jazz pianist Randy Weston's trio with saxophonist Cecil Payne which was recorded in 1956 at the Café Bohemia in Greenwich Village and released on th ...

'' (Riverside, 1956) *'' The Modern Art of Jazz by Randy Weston'' (Dawn, 1956) *'' Tanjah'' (Polydor, 1973)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul-Malik 1927 births 1993 deaths African-American guitarists American jazz bass guitarists American oud players Musicians from Brooklyn Riverside Records artists African-American Muslims American Muslims American Ahmadis 20th-century American bass guitarists American people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent Guitarists from New York (state) American male bass guitarists The High School of Music & Art alumni Jazz musicians from New York (state) 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians People from Brownsville, Brooklyn People from Crown Heights, Brooklyn 20th-century African-American musicians