RASHIED ALI

Rashied Ali is best known for his performances with John Coltrane in the 1960s. Together, they broke boundaries and embraced a free jazz style. Initially he and Elvin Jones both played with Coltrane, but eventually Rashied alone supported the jazz legend.

Born Robert Patterson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1935, Rashied’s entire family was musical. His mother and aunts played piano and sang at his grandmother’s church; his father was a jazz enthusiast; and Rashied’s cousins, Charlie and Bernard Rice, both drummed professionally. Rashied started playing the piano, but only stuck with it long enough to learn to read music. Then he moved onto the trombone, before becoming interested in the trumpet. Finally, he settled on the congas and other hand percussion instruments, thanks ultimately to his cousins’ influence.

Rashied met John Coltrane in the late 1950s in Philadelphia while Rashied considered himself just a drumming student. At the time, Coltrane was still playing with Miles Davis. Rashied admired Coltrane’s work so much that he would simply sit on the front porch of Coltrane’s house (he lived just four or five blocks from Rashied) and listen to him practice. Building up his skill and confidence, Rashied eventually asked Coltrane if he could sit in with him. Coltrane declined and suggested that Rashied go to New York and get some experience under his belt first. Rashied took that advice. In 1965, Coltrane asked the more seasoned Rashied to join him.

Rashied and Elvin Jones both played drums behind Coltrane. Rashied valued that experience: "Elvin was one of my heroes. He was one the guys that really got me started to play something different. By listening to Elvin Jones, I was able to find Rashied Ali." Before long, Elvin left, and Rashied found himself backing Coltrane all by himself.

Rashied played with Coltrane’s quartet, and the two of them recorded several duets together. Oddly, the two never performed a live duet. After Coltrane passed away in 1967, Rashied started performing in Europe and studied in England under Philly Joe Jones.

Rashied’s return to New York City found him working and recording with Jackie McLean, Alice Coltrane, Archie Shepp, Gary Bartz, and Dewey Redman, to name a few. Attempting to halt the decline of jazz in the 1970s, Rashied opened a jazz club, Ali’s Alley, and a record label. The Alley became an outlet for various jazz styles, but it eventually closed in 1979.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Rashied’s work was often reminiscent of his time with Coltrane, either as a tribute or a re-creation. Rashied occasionally performed with Makanda Ken MacIntyre on the saxophone. He also recoded with Zusaan Kali Fasteau in the early 1980s. In 1987 Rashied formed Phalanx with James "Blood" Ulmer, George Adams, and Sirone. Rashied (drums), William Parker (bass), and Charles Gayle (saxophone) recorded Touchin’ on Trane in 1991, which received critical acclaim. Rashied later created Prima Materia, an ensemble band committed to re-interpreting Coltrane’s work.