Abdullah Sami
Called ‘Mudon’ by those closest to him, Abdullah Sami would go on to be part of Chicago's rich, musical tapestry, a city imbued with the urban blues of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, the soul of Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway, home to influential record labels Chess and Delmark and the legendary Jazz artists co-operative the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians). Sami built a steady reputation in Chicago’s underground jazz and art loft scene, often performing with percussionist Yaounde Olu and bassist Imhotep Askia Ba at the former's own artist gallery Osun on Chicago's South Side, as well as other venues such as the Institute of Positive Education and Aziza Artist Space. In this period he would formulate his own multi-directional saxophone approach, his alto horn shifting modal frequencies in free flight, fluid and hypnotic, playing and teasing with harmony and melodics. Recognition in the Windy City remained elusive however and seeking wider exposure and better playing opportunities Sami headed east to New York where the recording "Peace Of Time" would come to fruition. It would remain perhaps the only documentation of Sami's creative talent, New York and the jazz scene ultimately proving to be as unforgiving as Chicago, to where he would return, but at least Chicago was home. The daily reality of life would take over, and Sami retreated from the music scene that nurtured him...
More Info
