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Alvin Fielder

To make an impact on the world, a person isn't required to be famous or rich. This is exactly the case with jazz drummer Alvin Fielder. "Al," as he is called by many of his friends, has put all his efforts and skills into bringing jazz music to the 21st century. Yet many people of the world don't recognize him. Fame and fortune is not what Fielder desires. His love goes to the community, friends, and the world; not for money, not to be a star, but to be someone that they can look up to. So after thirty years of hard work, respect for Mr. Fielder is well past due.

Alvin Fielder was born in Meridian, Mississippi, on November 23, 1935. He has a brother named Bill Fielder. Al became interested in music from the very beginning, not surprisingly, since both of his parents were musicians. His mother played the piano and violin, while his father studied the coronet. As a result, music was always heard around the house. When Al was about six, he took piano lessons for about three years but disliked his teacher. Then, at about the age of twelve , a friend of Al's played the drums. who had a natural talent playing percussion. His friend gave him an album titled Koko by Charlie Walker. The drummer was Max Roach. Young Al loved the way Max played the drums, and that's how Al became attracted to playing the drums (Fielder interview).

Al attended Xavier College in New Orleans from 1951 to 1953, then he attended Texas Southern from 1953 to 1956. The University of Illinois was the place where Al went for graduate school. He wanted to become a pharmacist like his father before him. However, even during his graduate studies, all he wanted to do was play music (Fielder interview).

In 1963, Al, and other jazz musicians founded the Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM). "The purpose of this was for groups to market the music, set up the concerts, and have a forum to play they own music without relying on the music of others. We wanted it to be free," said Fielder (Fielder interview). "AACM was based out of Chicago, and these musicians realized that free music wasn't being played outside of New York. So their music is completely free, it was designed to elevate the music to a new level," said Al's friend and former SHS graduate Chad Anderson (Anderson interview).

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Album Review

Dopolarians: Garden Party

Read "Garden Party" reviewed by Giuseppe Segala


Non si potrebbe trovare un titolo più calzante di questo Garden Party, per un disco che in tutta la propria estensione si dipana come un incontro piacevole tra vecchi amici, avvezzi a dialogare in tutta rilassatezza, perché conoscono bene il reciproco carattere, sanno dove il discorso andrà a parare e lo gestiscono in modo leggero. Ma l'incontro non si adagia sul già previsto: non mancano infatti le arguzie inattese, i reciproci stimoli di chi mette in campo tutta la propria ...

5
Album Review

Alvin Fielder / David Dove / Jason Jackson / Damon Smith: From-To-From

Read "From-To-From" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni


This quartet represents a meeting of generations and their approaches to jazz and improvised music. The quartet resembles such early free jazz units as the New York Art Quartet or the Archie Shepp--Roswell Rudd Quartet. Veteran drummer Alvin Fielder--the eldest member, with an encyclopedic knowledge of modern jazz drumming--is known for his extensive collaborations with saxophonist Kidd Jordan, bassist William Parker and trumpeter Dennis González; double bassist Damon Smith studied contemporary music and free improvisation with renowned bass players Lisle ...

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Interview

Alvin Fielder: It's About Time

Read "Alvin Fielder: It's About Time" reviewed by Clifford Allen


Drummer Alvin Fielder grew up in Mississippi, but the fruition of his musical career in Chicago came in the 1960s, when he worked with Sun Ra and appeared on Roscoe Mitchell's legendary Sound (Delmark, 1966) LP, one of the first AACM recordings to be released. After returning to a pharmacy career in Mississippi in the late 1960s, Fielder began working regularly with New Orleans saxophonist Kidd Jordan in the Improvisational Arts Ensemble.

A relationship that spans ...

315
Album Review

Alvin Fielder Trio: A Measure of Vision

Read "A Measure of Vision" reviewed by Troy Collins


Alvin Fielder, one of the original co-founders of the AACM, began his recording career drumming on Roscoe Mitchell's seminal album, Sound (Delmark, 1966). Despite his numerous associations and sideman duties (Joel Futterman, Dennis Gonzalez, Kidd Jordan, Sun Ra), he's never led a session under his own name, until now.

A Measure of Vision is Fielder's first official release as a leader. Joined by pianist Chris Parker and trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez, Fielder and company share equally in the responsibility ...

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137

Interview

Drummer Alvin Fielder Interviewed at AAJ

Drummer Alvin Fielder Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Drummer Alvin Fielder grew up in Mississippi, but the fruition of his musical career in Chicago came in the 1960s, when he worked with Sun Ra and appeared on Roscoe Mitchell's legendary Sound (Delmark, 1966) LP, one of the first AACM recordings to be released. After returning to a pharmacy career in Mississippi in the late 1960s, Fielder began working regularly with New Orleans saxophonist Kidd Jordan in the Improvisational Arts Ensemble.

A relationship that spans over thirty years, Fielder ...

145

Performance / Tour

Alvin Fielder & Kidd Jordan w/ Joe Morris at Firehouse 12

Alvin Fielder & Kidd Jordan w/ Joe Morris at Firehouse 12

Source: All About Jazz

Alvin Fielder and Kidd Jordan with Joe Morris Firehouse 12 Friday, June 16, 2006 9:30pm $18

Kidd Jordan: tenor saxophone Alvin Fielder: drums Joe Morris: bass

Alvin Fielder & Kidd Jordan w/ Joe Morris is truly one of those remarkable musical collaborations that comes along very rarely. From completely different backgrounds and musical experiences, each of these musicians has found a kindred spirit and aesthetic in one another ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Garden Party

Mahakala Music
2019

buy

From-To-From

Balance Point Acoustics
2014

buy

From-To-From

India Navigation
2013

buy

A Measure of Vision

Clean Feed Records
2007

buy

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