Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

September 19, 1930 in Chicago, IL

Death

:

October 29, 2017 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Muhal Richard Abrams was an American composer, pianist, and educator who was born on September 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in a musical family, and his mother was a church pianist. Abrams began playing the piano at a young age and was soon performing in church and school events. He attended DuSable High School, where he studied with the legendary music educator Walter Dyett, who also taught other notable musicians such as Nat King Cole and Dinah Washington. After high school, Abrams attended Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he studied music theory and composition. He also played in various jazz and R&B bands, including those led by King Kolax and Gene Ammons. In the early 1950s, Abrams served in the U.S. Army and played in the Army band. After his discharge, he returned to Chicago and became involved in the city's vibrant jazz scene. In the late 1950s, Abrams co-founded the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) with other like-minded musicians, including Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, and Joseph Jarman. The AACM was a collective of musicians who sought to create and perform original music that was not bound by traditional jazz conventions. Abrams served as the organization's president for many years and was a driving force behind its success. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Abrams composed and performed extensively, both as a solo artist and with various ensembles. He released several albums, including "Levels and Degrees of Light" (1967), "Sightsong" (1976), and "Blu Blu Blu" (1991). His music was characterized by its avant-garde approach, incorporating elements of free jazz, classical music, and African rhythms. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Abrams was also a respected educator. He taught at several universities, including Columbia College Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. He was also a mentor to many young musicians, including pianist Vijay Iyer and saxophonist Steve Coleman. Throughout his career, Abrams received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 2010, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the "genius grant," for his innovative work as a composer and performer. He was also inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012. Muhal Richard Abrams passed away on October 29, 2017, at the age of 87. His legacy as a composer, performer, and educator continues to inspire musicians around the world.

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