Artist: Dawan Muhammad Album: "In The Hood" Style: Straight-Ahead Recorded: 1993 [More Albums] [LIVE Rec] LifeForce [7:34 · 6.9M] (Muhammad) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloists: Dawan Muhammad, Tenor Sax; James Smith, Trumpet; Phil Ranelin, Trombone; Greg Kirstin, Piano [WMA stream] Yesterdays [5:54] (Kern) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloists: Dawan Muhammad, Flute; James Smith, Trumpet; Phil Ranelin, Trombone; Greg Kirstin, Piano [LIVE Rec] "In the Hood" [7:33 · 6.9M] (Murphy-Muhammad) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloists: Greg Kirstin, Piano Phil Ranelin, Trombone; James Smith, Trumpet; Dawan Muhammad, Tenor Sax [WMA stream] Straight From the Heart [8:03] (Muhammad) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloists: Dawan Muhammad, Tenor Sax; Greg Kirstin, Piano [LIVE Rec] Black Narcissus [8:56 · 8.2M] (Henderson) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloists: Greg Kirstin, Piano; James Smith, Trumpet; Phil Ranelin, Trombone; Billy Higgins, Drums [WMA stream] Just Friends [4:56] (Klenner-Lewis) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloists: James Smith, Trumpet; Dawan Muhammad, Tenor Sax; Phil Ranelin, Trombone; Greg Kirstin, Piano [WMA stream] Smoke Signal [9:33] (Muhammad) Recorded: 1993 Featured soloist: Phil Ranelin, Trombone; Dawan Muhammad, Tenor Sax; James Smith, Trumpet; Greg Kirstin, Piano   Album: Consider The Source Style: Straight-Ahead Recorded: 1992 Gingerbread Boy Over & Over Eronel Chase Everything Happens To Me Ace in the Whole Gumbo Consider the Source Remember to Smile The Art of End   Album: Hereafter Style: Straight-Ahead Recorded: 1979-1988 Hereafter West Oakland Strut Now He Sings No Need Consider the Source Bree's Theme Sneakin' a Peak into Darkness Ota Seems to Be Muqaddimah   Album: Radio Free Soul Style: Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 1976-1978 Universal Signs Tropicalia (Just in Case It Rains) Anxiety Is That You? Front Street Taumbu East Wind Cocoon Deep Stream Dan'zon de Santa Cruz (Toussain le Overture in Bb-)

Dawan Muhammad

Dawan Muhammad was born in 1946 in Dallas, Texas, where as a boy he became enamored of that city's many great jazz legends - including Red Garland, Ornette Coleman, Denny Dorham, and Cedar Walton. In the mid-1950s Muhammad and his family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he began to study saxophone. Muhammad's musical activities were placed on hold during an extended stint in the military, although he did manage to complete several correspondence courses from the Berklee School of Music.

Upon completion of his service, Muhammad, entered UC Santa Cruz where he earned degrees in Political Science and Islamic Studies. While a student, he co-founded Evidence Artistic Records, dedicated to advancing the careers of fellow musicians. Then in 1994, he co-founded, with legendary jazz drummer Billy Higgins, of LifeForceJazz Records in which he was able to release his own musical recordings - many made years ago while Muhammad was a student at UC Santa Cruz - as well as those of other talented jazz musicians. Beyond releasing records, however, LifeForceJazz is also an active community-based organization, bringing arts and culture to the Bay Area though after-school and week-end programs for youth.

As the recordings in the Jazz Archive attest, Muhammad is a very versatile musician, equally at home on the flute, soprano, alto, or tenor saxophones - even bass clarinet. He is also a composer and arranger, and inspiring bandleader - known for his impromptu recording sessions, which often yield magical results. His recordings are generally in the straight-ahead (post-Bop, neo-Hard Bop, etc.) vein, but at other times more avant-garde in nature - such as his Radio Free Soul recording, which offers examples of Muhammad's interest in strings writing and ethnic instruments. His recordings feature a large retinue of talented side-men (including Billy Higgins, Oscar Williams, Greg Kirstin, and Paul Nagel) all of whom help to make these recordings very enjoyable indeed.

We are delighted to have Dawan Muhammad as one of our first artists in the Jazz Archives, and look forward to hearing more from him and his LifeForceJazz roster.

Dawan Muhammad
website: http://www.lifeforcejazz.com