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Idris Muhammad

Idris Muhammad (born November 13, 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana; Arabic: إدريس محمد) is a jazz drummer. He was born Leo Morris on November 13, 1939 before changing his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover Washington, Jr. He has been touring and recording with pianist Ahmad Jamal since 1995. At 15 years-old, one of Muhammad's earliest recorded sessions as a drummer was on Fats Domino's 1956 smash hit Blueberry Hill.

In 1966, he married Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (former member of the Crystals; she converted to Islam with him and went for a time under the name Sakinah Muhammad). They separated in 1999. Together, they have two sons and two daughters. Muhammad is an endorser of Istanbul Agop Cymbals.^[1] who issued a 22" Idris Muhammad Signature Ride in at the 2008 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.

Selected discography

• Power of Soul (1974)
• House of the Rising Sun (1976)
• Turn This Mutha Out (1977)
• Kabsha (1980)
• My Turn (1992)

Discography as a sideman

• Get In Benjamin Herman (1999)

With Leon Spencer

• Sneak Preview (Prestige Records, 1970)
• Louisiana Slim (Prestige, 1971)

With Ahmad Jamal

• The Essence, Part III (Atlantic Records, 1998)

References

External links

• Interview in Allaboutjazz
• Idris Muhammad at Allmusic
• {http://www.amm-music.com/myturn.htm} Artist and album page of Lipstick Records