Abdul Wadud (musician)

Summary

Abdul Wadud (born Ronald Earsall DeVaughn; April 30, 1947 – August 10, 2022) was an American cellist known for his work in jazz and classical settings.[2] Jazz musician and fellow composer Tomeka Reid hailed Abdul Wadud's "Camille" in a 2020 feature in the New York Times on music that one could play to make friends fall in love with the cello.[3]

Abdul Wadud
Wadud in 1976
Wadud in 1976
Background information
Birth nameRonald Earsall DeVaughn[1]
Born(1947-04-30)April 30, 1947
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 2022(2022-08-10) (aged 75)
Cleveland
GenresJazz, avant-garde jazz, classical
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Cello
Years active1965–2022

His son is R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn.[4]

Wadud died on August 10, 2022, at the age of 75.[4]

Discography edit

As leader edit

  • 1977: By Myself Bishara, 1978
  • 1976: Live In New York (with Julius Hemphill) Red Records, 1978
  • 1979: Straight Ahead/Free At Last (with Leroy Jenkins) Red
  • 1984: I've Known Rivers (with James Newton & Anthony Davis) Gramavision
  • 1986: Black Swan Quartet (with Akbar Ali, Eileen Folson & Reggie Workman) Minor Music
  • 1990: Trio^2 (with James Newton & Anthony Davis) Gramavision
  • 1993: Oakland Duets (with Julius Hemphill) Music & Arts

As sideman edit

With James Newton

  • Paseo Del Mar (1978)
  • Portraits (1982)
  • Romance And Revolution (1986)

With Julius Hemphill

With Arthur Blythe

With Anthony Davis

  • Of Blues And Dreams (1978) Sackville
  • Epistemes (1981)
  • Undines (1986)

References edit

  1. ^ "Abdul Wadud, Cellist Who Crossed Musical Boundaries, Dies at 75". The New York Times. August 18, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  2. ^ Allmusic
  3. ^ "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love the Cello". The New York Times. June 3, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Martin (August 12, 2022). "Abdul Wadud, expressive cellist who blazed a trail in improvised music, dies at 75". NPR. Retrieved August 12, 2022.

External links edit

  • Abdul Wadud at AllMusic
  • Abdul Wadud discography at Discogs
  • Wanek, Joel; Reid, Tomeka (December 2016). "By Myself: An Interview with Abdul Wadud". Point of Departure.
  • Crépon, Pierre (March 2020). "The Blistering Cosmic Music of The Black Unity Trio". The Wire.
  • Lee, David (December 2020). "Knocking Down Barriers: An Interview with Abdul Wadud, 1980". Point of Departure.
  • Obituary from National Public Radio
  • Obituary from JazzTimes
  • Crépon, Pierre (August 2022). "Cleveland memories of Abdul Wadud". The Wire.
  • Shteamer, Hank (May 1, 2023). "Abdul Wadud's Cosmic Cello Music Gets Another Moment in the Sun". The New York Times.