THE POWER OF THE SOUL DRUMMER
Listening to Idris Muhammad’s ‘Could Heaven Ever Be Like This’ – a long-term favourite of mine from the halcyon days of Robbie Vincent’s BBC Radio London show –was like being momentarily transported to Jazz Funk paradise – well for 8 minutes at least.
That was way back in ’77, Idris’ drumming has subsequently become the stuff of legend and equally lauded by fellow drummers, Hip Hop samplers and Jazz and Funk music lovers alike.
Sadly the drummer, passed away recently at the age of 74 of unknown causes, although he had been suffering from kidney problems.
Idris started out as a young drummer/ percussionist playing R&B in the fifties, his first recording at the age of 16 being Fats Domino’s hit single ‘Blueberry Hill’ in 1956. He also played with the likes of Sam Cooke, Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield/ Impressions.
Originally named Leo Morris before his conversion to Islam, the New Orleans born drummer moved to New York in the sixties. Soon his reputation grew such that he earned a recording gig with the legendary Jazz alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson – a Blue Note stalwart, with whom he contributed some of the funkiest drum patterns of the late 60’s. He is featured on Donaldson classics like ‘Say It Loud’, ‘Its My Thing’ and ‘Who’s Making Love’.
His impeccable sense of timing made Idris a natural for the drum chair in the upbeat Soul Jazz of that period. Numerous recording dates at Blue Note and then at Prestige ensued, frequently in Hammond organ combos to which his energetic style was especially suited. Muhammad played with nearly all the great Hammond players – Charles Earland, Lonnie Smith, Leon Spencer, Reuben Wilson and more besides, as well as Donaldson’s sidemen like George Benson and Melvin Sparks.
He recorded two sets under his own name for Prestige, the down right funky ‘Black Rhythm Revolution’ and ‘’Peace And Rhythm’. The former – a masterpiece – featured wonderful covers of Charles Wright’s ‘Express Yourself’ and James Brown’s ‘Super Bad’. The second side is however a revelation with two wonderful modal pieces ‘Wander’ and ‘By The Red Sea’.
‘Peace And Rhythm’ is more mystical, although ‘I’m A Believer’ features then wife Sakinah Muhammad on vocals and is popular with many Modern Soul fans. ‘Rhythm’ shows Idris’ percussive skills with its relentless Latin and Afro flavoured groove. The two albums reflect two very different sides of his diverse musical persona – his R&B/ Funk roots and his Jazz leanings that emerged during his stint with Lou Donaldson.
In 1974, the drummer joined Creed Taylor’s Kudu label, where he recorded the much revered ‘Power Of Soul’ album. The Grover Washington Jr. composed ‘Loran’s Dance’ has become much sought after, in particular by lovers of Hip Hop breaks.
It was whilst at Kudu that Idris first flirted with Disco music. His 1977 set ‘Turn This Mutha Out’ features the aforementioned classic ‘Could Heaven Be Like This’. The less strong ‘Boogie To The Top’ followed, but Idris had sufficiently impressed to earn a contract with a major label.
The commercial Disco flavour continued when he signed with Fantasy Records in 1978 and three largely uneven sets followed. ‘Make It Count’ did have some fine moments, however, including the dance orientated ‘For Your Love’ and the 2 step ‘I Believe You’.
Muhammad naturally explorative musical personality was not sated by the commercialism of Disco. Idris re-established his musical connection with Pharaoh Sanders (he featured on Sanders 1969 set ‘Jewels Of Thought’) and recorded with the saxophonist on most if not all of the latter’s Theresa albums from 1980 to 1987. From these sessions came the all-time Jazz Dance classic ‘You Got To Have Freedom’ and ‘Heart Is A Melody’. He continued to work with Pharaoh and more recently with Ahmad Jamal until his kidney problems restricted what he was able to do.
In hindsight, it is hard to appreciate fully the extent of the contribution and influence of Idris Muhammad. As a drummer, he was to late 60’s Soul Jazz what Harvey Mason was to 70’s Jazz Funk and contributed to countless sessions. In the wider musical context, drummers tend not garner the plaudits their work and art deserves – Blakey, Elvin Jones, Billy Cobham et al. Idris Muhammad is in good company.
Recommended recordings:
Black Rhythm Revolution/ Peace And Rhythm CD
Power Of Soul CD
Turn This Mutha Out LP
‘Could Heaven Ever Be Like This’ is featured on the excellent compilation; ‘Masters Jazz Funk’.
