Sunday, April 09, 2017

Idris Muhammad's Jazz

Though I prefer to stay away from noisy clubs, restaurants and eatery places but if you are in New Orleans, you can't get away without paying homage to French Quarters!


I have been there few times but last time when I was there, it was a weekday. It was relatively quiet and we found a nice restaurant to enjoy seafood. Music in the background was mesmerizing. I asked our waiter and he said: "This is from son of the New Orleans, Idis Muhammad and this is his famous tune Loran's dance" (here). After that I heard his various compositions and loved it softly running on side as I do my mundane errands at home. I am not even a verified listener but I believe what distinguish his jazz composition is the simultaneous feeling of softness, vitality, happiness and beats synchronized with heart.

Out of all Loran's dance stayed my favorite, probably because on that day, at that given moment in restaurant it came to me more as a divine revelation, and I learned how a nice composition can drive human emotions.

One thing is evident as I read more on his life that he was in search of truth and followed the voice of his conscience and alike many African Americans who questioned the injustice of society. Few converted to Islam including Mohammad Ali Clay, during civil rights time in USA. Softness of his jazz along with vitality of tunes tell me that he was a deep person, not a superficial instrument player. He played his soul out in music.

3 comments:

bsc said...

Mystic that is what I miss about music. I was very much into music both filmi and classical (including vocal) but it is all gone for ever now. Cochlear implant restores the sound but quality and other nicities are not available in this electronic sound. I had great respect for Nusrat FAKhan who had unique ability to mix pure classical with semi classical in such a wonderful way. Also try listening to his some panjabi songs on tabla - harmonium type of accompaniment and then same song accompanied by total western musical instruments and drumming You will see what I am saying
Well I am glad you found this music so enchanting. Does Idrees mix eastern tuning methodology? because I feel that deeper effects of eastern music are less recognised and less available in the Western one. I am getting too long in my comments but being a neurologist I have studied the effects of music on the brain a bit more than others. Yeah you can call me music-crazy

mystic-soul said...

Uncle,

I am not sure if he integrated eastern and western instruments like Peter Gabriel and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Duo

But one thing was evident as I read more on his life that he was in search of truth and followed the voice of his conscience and alike many African Americans who questioned the injustice of society. Few converted to Islam including Mohammad Ali Clay, during civil right time in USA. Softness of his jazz tells me that he was a deep person, not a superficial instrument player. He played his soul out in music.

(let me add this para to my blog as I believe this was the essence I wanted to write. Thank you for bringing it up)

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