Ahmad Alaadeen Funeral / Wake / Memorial Services INFO: Jazz Saxman-Educator-Composer-Author Dies At 76

Ahmad S. Alaadeen an American "Jazz Master" saxophonist, composer, educator, author has died at the age of 76 years on August 15th, 2010...noted for his contribution to the world of jazz for 60+ years he was particularly well known in the Kansas City, Mo jazz scene and 35 years as an educator. He had a career in jazz and music that spanned six decades having performed with the likes of Jay McShann, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kenton, Lester Bowie, Billie Holiday, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Tonight Show Band, including rhythm & blues legends such as Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight. Services are to be held on Tuesday, August 17 at 10 am at Watkins Brothers Memorial Chapel located at 4000 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. in Kansas City, MO, followed by a 12:30 pm burial at National Cemetery in Fort Leavenworth, KS. Donations may be sent to “Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc.," 6507 Grand, Kansas City, MO 64118 to benefit jazz education or the Al-Haqq Islamic Center, 6941 Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64132 (Please include your full name/address and specify that the gift is in memory of Alaadeen; ask them to notify the family of Alaadeen as well). There will be a jazz performance by the Dennis Winslett Quartet and other artists honoring Alaadeen and his music on September 4th, 2010 at The Blue Room 1616 E. 18th St. Kansas City, Mo., located at the American Jazz Museum. Tickets start at $10. His Wikipedia profile is available by clicking here. Alaadeen's official website is viewable by clicking here. Also, there is a memorial website for Alaadeen which has a Guestbook that can be accessed on-line by clicking here. There is a very good article detailing his life posted at AllAboutJazz.com here by DeBlaze and Associates.

Here is a video interview of Ahmad Alaadeen recounting his life experience with jazz:


Here is a video of Ahmad Alaadeen doing the tune "21st Century Rag":

(source: youtube.com, allaboutjazz.com, wikipedia.org)

Robert "Baabe" Irving III Jazz Homage To Miles Davis And Gil Evans

The Jazz Institute of Chicago presents "Sketches of Brazil: Robert Irving III's Orchestral Homage to Miles and Gil" in Chicago and its free!!! I have been a fan of "Baabe" for a long time and have seen him play/conduct at various venues around Chicago...he never fails to delight and this event should be another one he delivers on with his unique brand of "musicality"...don't miss this!

Thursday, August 13th
6:30 PM
FREE
Millennium Park: Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Composer, pianist and educator Robert Irving III conducts the newly formed Sonic Portraits Orchestra in the world premiere of Sketches of Brazil, an orchestral homage to his mentors, Miles Davis and Gil Evans. The concert features Robert Irving III (composer, conductor, piano); Sonic Portraits Orchestra (a blend of 33 classical and jazz musicians); Wallace Roney (trumpet, flugelhorn); Fareed Haque (guitar), Dede Sampaio (percussion), Felipe Fraga (percussion), Charles Heath (percussion) and Miles Evans (trumpet).

Special panel: Earlier that day from noon to 1:30 pm, the Chicago Cultural Center hosts a panel "50 Years from Sketches of Spain to Sketches of Brazil: A Symposium on the legacy of Miles Davis & Gil Evans" in the Claudia Cassidy Theater. Admission is free and open to the public. Professor Fareed Haque moderates a conversation with Sketches of Brazil composer/arranger Robert Irving III. Additional panelists include Wallace Roney, Vince Wilburn Jr. (nephew of Miles Davis), Miles Evans (son of Gil Evans), Dede Sampaio and Felipe Fraga.