Alaadeen - New Africa Suite

[ASR-Kansas City]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KANSAS CITY USA -- The brand new release by Alaadeen, titled: “New Africa Suite”, is now available for preview and secure online purchase of the manufactured product at his CD Baby store site. Alaadeen's CD Baby Artist Page contains sample clips of each selection from the CD, a convenient ordering interface, and there is a 10% discount on orders of 2 or more copies of “New Africa Suite”. Below are some of the positive comments and reviews about this CD, more are found at Alaadeen's CD Baby site.

REVIEWS/QUOTES:

“Ahmad Alaadeen has the sound of peace in his horns. This reflects his philosophy about life; he is a man of peace. While listening to ‘Grace’, from his ‘New Africa Suite’, I was both intrigued and soothed at the same time. His solos flow seamlessly out of the melodies of each composition with a thematic development that will have you wondering where the solo starts and the melody ends. I believe that ‘New Africa Suite’ is Alaadeen’s most important project to date. His tone on both the tenor and soprano are one of the most beautiful and compelling sounds in jazz.”
… Bobby Watson, International Jazz Artist

“Listeners are immediately engaged from the very first track of the disc to explore the polyrhythmic grooves that are complemented by Alaadeen's thoughtful use of world music percussion; the rich and accessible complex jazz harmonies of each piece; Alaadeen's logically crafted and expertly composed melodies; and, the myriad of aural adventures that each of the individual soloists bring to the music. This is truly music that has been captured in its most creative context”
... Chris Burnett, All About Jazz

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[ASR-Kansas City]

Track Listing: Grace; Beneath Where Rivers Flow; Salaam, Shalom, Peace; The Burning Sand; Time's Up; Home Again; The Jannah Now.

Personnel: Alaadeen: tenor and soprano saxophones; Harold O'Neal: piano; Seth Lee: bass; Donivan Bailey: drums; Ray Stewart: percussion. Track 7: Alaadeen: soprano saxophone; Christopher Clarke: piano; Tyrone Clark: electric bass; Michael Warren: drums; Ray Stewart: percussion.

Style: Mainstream/Bop/Hard Bop/Cool

New Africa Suite
Artist: Alaadeen | Label: 'ASR Records
Review Published: August 24, 2005

By Marc Meyers - All About Jazz

Ahmad Alaadeen is a saxophonist and composer who makes music that manages to be both lyrical and hard-hitting, and not coincidentally, he's from Kansas City, with its rich jazz tradition. His latest album is New Africa Suite (not to be confused with a Grachan Moncur III record of the same name), and it is top-shelf.

Alaadeen wrote all the music here, and each piece has a catchy, attractive theme with intricate harmonies and construction to challenge the improvisers. And whether it's the funk of “Beneath Where Rivers Flow” or the flat-out swing of “The Burning Sand,” he and his band are up to every challenge.

While Alaadeen operates within traditional bop and post bop parameters, he's a thoroughly original musician. He produces a full, rich tone on both his horns, and he doesn't sound like anyone else. He plays lines that are full of singing beauty, and at the same time, he invests them with the flowing swing that is unique to his home town. Awareness of modern musical trends enters his music, as in his use of a hip-hop rhythm on “The Jannah Now,” which is nonetheless unmistakably jazz.

Throughout, Alaadeen has the support of a very together rhythm section, although the band on “The Jannah Now” is different from the band on the rest of the album. These rhythm sections are tight and precise. They're also loose and telepathic, just as jazz of this caliber requires. Pianist Harold O'Neal is especially effective, using his impressive technique to create improvisations that swing with fluid and unpredictable movement. His support of Alaadeen is unwavering and harmonically rich. As for bassist Seth Lee, drummer Donivan Bailey, and percussionist Ray Stewart, their blend is seamless, even during the most complex, fiery passages. The different rhythm section on “The Jannah Now” exhibits similar virtues. Alaadeen deserves much greater recognition. New Africa Suite is highly recommended.

ALAADEEN
New Africa Suite
ASR Records

By Tom Ineck - Berman Music Foundation

True to its title, “New Africa Suite” is rife with African rhythms. That is evident from the percussion intro to the opener, “Grace,” another recent composition dedicated to Butch Berman and his Nigerian wife of the same name. In all, Ahmad Alaadeen has written seven original tunes that hold together well and justify the “suite” designation.

On both tenor and soprano saxophones, Alaadeen’s sound most closely resembles the African-influenced excursions of John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp and other progressive players of the mid-1960s. A funk element is added on “Beneath Where Rives Flow,” with some outstanding piano work by Harold O’Neal, bassist Seth Lee and drummer Donivan Bailey.

Like Coltrane, Alaadeen’s music contains a deep, warm current of spirituality and universal brotherhood, especially on the gorgeous “Salaam, Shalom, Peace.” The initial tenor statement is beautifully expanded on by O’Neal at the piano. “The Burning Sand” is a propulsive, start-and-stop exercise fully utilizing Alaadeen’s leaping soprano lines and piercing tone.

“Home Again” dances to the swaying, alternating rhythms of Alaadeen’s full-bodied tenor, giving the tune the feel of a blues waltz. Again, O’Neal contributes a wonderful solo by building on the inherent finger-popping pulse. The funk element returns with “The Jannah Now,” which features Alaadeen on soprano, fronting a slightly different but equally capable lineup that includes pianist Christopher Clarke, bassist Tyrone Clark and drummer Michael Warren.

Another unifying factor is the varied percussion work contributed by Ray Stewart throughout this very satisfying musical experience.

NEW AFRICA SUITE
ALAADEEN
By Sounds of Timeless Jazz

Saxophonist, artist, composer Alaadeen has played his sax with such great jazz and blues legends as Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Duke Ellington as well as having become a legend in his own right. He’s won a plethora of awards including Billboard’s songwriting competitions and Musician Magazine’s Best Unsigned Band back in 1996. On a larger scale though, he has been recognized around the world for his works and has received numerous jazz awards, grants and congressional awards. Although NEW AFRICA SUITE is not a part of the acclaimed Heads Up Africa Series, NEW AFRICA SUITE, released on ASR Records in June 2005, reflects the stellar work of Alaadeen on sax, Harold O’Neal on piano, Seth Lee on acoustic bass, Donovan Bailey on drums, Ray Stewart on percussion on this excellent seven-part suite. Pianist Christopher Clarke, electric bassist Tyrone Clark and drummer Michael Warren bring it home on part seven, which is titled “The Jannah Now.” From the very first track, “Grace,” Alaadeen captures you with his polyrhythmic grooves that are complemented by the rich harmonies of his sidemen. The melodies are beautifully composed and his solos flow straight ahead. Listen to “Beneath Where The Rivers Flow” and you’ll hear this example of his fluid playing. His tone on both saxes – tenor and soprano – are compelling and beautifully mesmerizing especially on “Home Again.” A glorious find and one that you’re sure to enjoy.