American drum-set doyen Pheeroan akLaff believes that the arts are a way to give thanks and to work for change. His drumming with adventuresome composers includes tours of Africa, Asia, and Europe with musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, Anthony Davis, Amina Claudine Myers, Henry Threadgill, Sonny Sharrock, Yamashita Yosuke, Liu Sola, Andrew Hill, Mike Nock, James Newton, Anthony Braxton, Tom Pierson, and many others.
Drumming Highlights
Wadada Leo Smith - Athens 2016, Sao Paalo 2014, Yosuke Yamashita New York Trio with strings Japan Tour 2010, Don Byron - Sao Paolo 2010, Cecil Taylor AHA Trio Lincoln Center, NYC 2008, Henry Brant Dormant Craters Lincoln Center New York, 2008, Double Duo at Columbia University: Rashid Ali, Ravi Coltrane, and Mixashawn 1999 - 2003
Liu Sola Quartet - Wu Man, Fernando Sanders, Pheeroan akLaff, Beijing, Shanghai, China 2000, Andrew Hill Trio Queen Elizabeth Hall London U.K., 1999
Summit Conference - Reggie Workman, Julian Priester, Andrew Hill, Sam Rivers, 1997-1999 Anthony Davis -The Life and Times of Malcolm X - New York City Opera 1983, Jay Hoggard USIS tour 1985: / Oliver Lake USIS tour 1982
Concert Producer
Seed Artists: Freedom of Sound Percussion Festival Montclair NJ 2018, Eric Dolphy Freedom of Sound Celebration 2014, Richard Davis concert 2015
Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning: 1st annual Jazz Festival featuring Milford Graves, Don Byron, Sumi Tonooka, Erica Lindsay - 2018, Randy Weston concert: 2017, International Jazz concert: Wadada Leo Smith, Vernon Reid, Nat Adderley Jr. -2017, Thursday Jazz series 2016, 2017
Carver Center San Antonio TX: Frederick Douglass Chronicles - 1996
Awards
South Arts/ New York Community Trust - 2021, South Arts - Jazz Roads - 2020
New Music America 2018, New York Foundation for the Arts – 2000
Publications
Jazz and Spirituality", Studium Zentrum press, Austria www.smc-info.at 2008
House of Friends: Temperance 2018
with Dr. Psyche Loui 2016 Jazz Improvisation as a Model of the Creative Process
Manuscripts
A View From Thrones Curating the Jazz Bohemia of Japan. Includes interviews with Yui San, Kaibutstu Tatsuno, Kyoko Seki, and Dr. Uchida
The Why in Music: Includes interviews with Richard Davis, Jack DeJohnette, Randy Weston, Rufus Reid, and Angelica Sanchez
Rhythm and Stasis: Notes on The American Drum-set, the historical and cultural polyglot.
Ensemble Leader Recordings
Forest Ghosts 2021 Modern Masters
Live at Yahagi 2018 Modern Masters
The Willisau Concert 2016 Modern Masters
Live in Japan Volume One 2012 Modern Masters
Global Mantras, 1997 - Modern Masters,
Sonogram –1989 - Mu
Fits Like A Glove –1983 - Gramavision
Solo Recordings
Drumßet Variations / 2010, Modern Masters
Drum-set Variations - a primer of drum-set patterns - 2002
Duo Recordings
Brooklyn Waters, 1999, with Michael Cain
Revolutionary Quill, 2003, with Anthony Braxton
House of Spirit; Mirth –1981
Music in Film
Hewitt Collection of African American Art Charles Martin, 2008
Hats by Bunn, a documentary by Charles Martin, 2007
Ed Clark: A Brush With Success by Charles Martin 2006
Sweet Samoa by Tomas Casas 2003
Print Articles on Pheeroan akLaff
Musicworks article by Stuart Broomer Winter 2013
Slagwerk Magazine by Hugo Pinksterboer January 2012
Jazz Magazine (Spain) interview with Jorge Lopez Gereñu Autumn 2010
Hot House Magazine cover article April 2004
Coda Magazine cover piece July/August 1997
Signature Magazine Japan, Dr. Tekemura interview April 1996
The Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Jordan interview, January 1996
The Villager, interview New York, N.Y. February 1996
Modern Drummer, Noah Howard interview 12/95,
Drums Magazine Japan, Interview 1991
Marie Claire Japan, CD review 1990, Jazz Podium, Germany 1989
Musician Magazine Ted Drozdowski interview June 1989
RYTMI Magazine Finland #9-10 interview November 1987
Modern Drummer, Chip Stern interview May 1984
Midday Times Bombay, India interview January 1984
Coda Magazine Canada#186 interview January 1982
Ivoire Dimanche Magazine Ivory Coast#537 J.S. Bakiono interview June 1981
Ophelia Magazine Nigeria Volume 2 Frank Fairfax interview January 1981
Ensemble leader Highlights
Pheeroan akLaff with Mike Nock, Australia 1996, upcoming reunion 2022
Japan Tour 2013 Pheeroan akLaff "Dear Freedom Suite" ensemble: Okazaki, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tsu, Mie, Tokyo, Japan
60th year of August 6th remembrance Solo Concert Saikoji Temple Nagano, Japan 2005
Double Duo Ensemble – Rashied Ali, Ravi Coltrane, Mixashawn, Columbia University, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
“W” Can’t Win Pheeroan akLaff -Solo, The Jazz Gallery, 2003
Residencies
Jryerup Accordion Denmark 2016
Par Do To, Warsaw Poland February 2013
Tufts University, April 2010
Carver Center, San Antonio, TX.- Frederick Douglass Chronicles -1996
Interests: Music and Cognition, Criminal Justice Reform, Sacred Architecture