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Muhal Richard Abrams
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
The pianist and composer Muhal Richard Abrams from Chicago taught himself his craft and played hard bop in the 1950s. In 1961 he started the Experimental Band, a group in which young musicians could try out their own work. In 1965 he co-founded the AACM with others and became its first chairman. He taught composition there and encouraged musicians to find a musical language of their own. His own work ranges from ragtime and stride to free improvisation and orchestral writing. In 1977 he moved to New York. In 2010 he received the NEA Jazz Masters award. He died in 2017.
Listening
Listening tip. Listen to how pieces from different styles are placed side by side.
Levels and Degrees of Light · Muhal Richard Abrams, 1967
Afrisong · Muhal Richard Abrams, 1975
Charlie in the Parker · Muhal Richard Abrams, 1977
Discography
Studio albums
- 1968Levels and Degrees of Light
- 1970Young at Heart / Wise in Time
- 1975Afrisong
- 1975Things to Come From Those Now Gone
- 1976Duets 1976
- 1976Sightsong
- 19781-OQA+19
- 1980Mama and Daddy
- 1980Spihumonesty
- 1981Duet
- 1981Lifelong Ambitions
- 1982Blues Forever
- 1987Colors in Thirty-Third
- 1993Familytalk
- 1995One Line; Two Views
- 1996Think All, Focus One
- 1997Song For All
- 1997The Open Air Meeting
- 2001The Visibility of Thought
- 2006Streaming
- 2011SoundDance
- ?Vision Towards Essence
Other work
- 1983Rejoicing with the Light
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Jazz MapNL Map
- After Hours: Session 3NL Reader
Mentioned in other articles
- AACM and the Chicago avant-garde Genre
In May 1965 the pianist Muhal Richard Abrams and a group of musicians on Chicago's South Side founded the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, AACM for short.