Jazz Articles

Take Five With Ahmad Alaadeen

by AAJ Staff
January 13, 2008

Meet Ahmad Alaadeen: Born in Kansas City, Alaadeen grew up around music. “I listened to all types of styles. I went to Philharmonic concerts, loved Lester Young, liked T-Bone Walker and was crazy about Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson." He began on the saxophone when he was in sixth grade, in time also mastering flute, clarinet and oboe. Alaadeen debuted as a professional when he was fourteen, and his first major job was playing baritone sax with the great pianist/bandleader Jay McShann. ...

Ahmad Alaadeen: Time Through The Ages

by Jim Santella
January 1, 1999

Alaadeen has been working in the mainstream of jazz for over forty years, starting out with legends such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Stan Kenton. Released in mid-1997, Time Through The Ages places the saxophonist in acoustic small group settings with varying personnel. More information concerning the session leader may be found at http://www.successmarketplace.com/shops/asrrecords/asr.html#artist .

Duke Pearson’s “Jeannine" is presented as a sextet arrangement with both trumpet and flugelhorn playing counterpoint to Alaadeen’s tenor lines. The familiar ...