Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Al Harewood was born on June 3, 1923 and as a child Harewood was a gifted tap dancer that gave recitals and was affiliated with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson’s school of dance. With his older brother’s drum unoccupied when he was drafted into the Army during WWII, He began his apprenticeship. Having contracted pneumonia as a child and exempted from military service, Al began his illustrious career as a jazz drummer.

While working at a munitions armory during the war, Harewood taught himself the drums, finding uncommon aptitude for playing the traps with fire and swing. He began listening to the major percussion innovators of the time: Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, and the new bop styling’s of Kenny Clarke and began playing club dates around New York.

Harewood plays very melodically with rhythmic punches, a talent that made him an expert at feeding and supporting each soloist while never getting in the way of a horn player’s melodic development. He has worked with J. J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Art Farmer, Gigi Gryce, Benny Golson, Horace Parlan, Ike Quebec, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Curtis Fuller, Stan Getz, Carmen McRae, Mary Lou Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Shirley Scott and Dexter Gordon to name a few.

By age 88, Al Harewood maintained a wonderful sense of humor, dignity and courage as one of the original creators of modern jazz drumming. He played in New York’s clubs each and every night at the very least in spirit if not influence. He spent his time between New York and his family home in Barbados until his passing on March 13, 2014 at the age of 90.

Give A Gift Of Jazz – Share

More Posts: drums