2005 -2022 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc
Alvin Fielder (November 23, 1935 – January 5, 2019)
To make an impact on the world, a person isn't required to be famous or rich. This is
exactly the case with jazz drummer Alvin Fielder. "Al," as he is called by many of his
friends, has put all his efforts and skills into bringing jazz music to the 21st century. Yet
many people of the world don't recognize him. Fame and fortune is not what Fielder
desires. His love goes to the community, friends, and the world; not for money, not to
be a star, but to be someone that they can look up to. So after thirty years of hard
work, respect for Mr. Fielder is well past due. Alvin Fielder was born in Meridian,
Mississippi, on November 23, 1935. He has a brother named Bill Fielder. Al became
interested in music from the very beginning, not surprisingly, since both of his parents
were musicians. His mother played the piano and violin, while his father studied the
coronet. As a result, music was always heard around the house. When Al was about
six, he took piano lessons for about three years but disliked his teacher. Then, at about
the age of twelve , a friend of Al's played the drums. who had a natural talent playing
percussion. His friend gave him an album titled Koko by Charlie Walker. The drummer
was Max Roach. Young Al loved the way Max played the drums, and that's how Al
became attracted to playing the drums (Fielder interview). Al attended Xavier College
in New Orleans from 1951 to 1953, then he attended Texas Southern from 1953 to
1956. The University of Illinois was the place where Al went for graduate school. He
wanted to become a pharmacist like his father before him. However, even during his
graduate studies, all he wanted to do was play music (Fielder interview). In 1963, Al,
and other jazz musicians founded the Association for the Advancement of Creative
Music (AACM). "The purpose of this was for groups to market the music, set up the
concerts, and have a forum to play they own music without relying on the music of
others. We wanted it to be free," said Fielder (Fielder interview). "AACM was based
out of Chicago, and these musicians realized that free music wasn't being played
outside of New York. So their music is completely free, it was designed to elevate the
music to a new level," said Al's friend and former SHS graduate Chad Anderson
(Anderson interview).
Roscoe Mitchell's Sextet was the first album that Al was a part of. It was also the first
album released from the AACM (Drimala website). Their first album, released in 1967,
was entitled Sound. "Improvisational" music is what describes the type of music Al
enjoys to play. This "improvisational" sound is basically making up the tunes, beats,
and sounds as the song progresses. The sound may not be delightful to the untrained
ear, but it is really beautiful to listen to. Both the sounds and skills of all the musicians,
using their listening abilities to "improvise" with one another, is of critical importance
in making the music sound right. That's why the music is always new and always "in the
moment" (Drimala website). In 1977, Al started a pharmacy in Starkville, Mississippi. .
At that time, he lived in Meridian. Everyday, Al would drive back and forth from home
to work and back again. In 1991, he decided the driving was too much and decided to
leave his Starkville pharmacy. He instead established a new pharmacy in the Jackson
area, where he had moved to around 1978. Tied down with his business, Al has found
it difficult to play as many shows as he used to. Nevertheless, he still makes every
effort to keep active in the music arena. Reflecting on his preparation activities, Al
indicated that "when a show is coming up, I train like a boxer. I undergo intense
practices. I get to my drum set and I practice the rudiments of getting around the
drum. I don't practice the music, I am open minded, and improvise on the spot." said Al
(Fielder interview). "Music is like painting a portrait or creative writing. Drumming is
not beating on something. I think in terms of actual music and rhythm. Like writing,
there is form to it. There has to be a vocabulary to have good music. There has to be a
starting point and an ending one" (Fielder interview). In recent years Fielder joined
with Joel Futterman and Kidd Jordan to make the album Nickelsdorf Knofrontation,
and in 1998 he recorded Southern Extreme with them live at Mississippi State
University.
Biography written by Brian Beaulieu (SHS)
aacm new york
aacm new york
Alvin Fielder (November 23, 1935 –
January 5, 2019)
To make an impact on the world, a
person isn't required to be famous or
rich. This is exactly the case with jazz
drummer Alvin Fielder. "Al," as he is
called by many of his friends, has put all
his efforts and skills into bringing jazz
music to the 21st century. Yet many
people of the world don't recognize
him. Fame and fortune is not what
Fielder desires. His love goes to the
community, friends, and the world; not
for money, not to be a star, but to be
someone that they can look up to. So
after thirty years of hard work, respect
for Mr. Fielder is well past due. Alvin
Fielder was born in Meridian,
Mississippi, on November 23, 1935. He
has a brother named Bill Fielder. Al
became interested in music from the
very beginning, not surprisingly, since
both of his parents were musicians. His
mother played the piano and violin,
while his father studied the coronet. As
a result, music was always heard
around the house. When Al was about
six, he took piano lessons for about
three years but disliked his teacher.
Then, at about the age of twelve , a
friend of Al's played the drums. who
had a natural talent playing percussion.
His friend gave him an album titled
Koko by Charlie Walker. The drummer
was Max Roach. Young Al loved the way
Max played the drums, and that's how
Al became attracted to playing the
drums (Fielder interview). Al attended
Xavier College in New Orleans from
1951 to 1953, then he attended Texas
Southern from 1953 to 1956. The
University of Illinois was the place
where Al went for graduate school. He
wanted to become a pharmacist like his
father before him. However, even
during his graduate studies, all he
wanted to do was play music (Fielder
interview). In 1963, Al, and other jazz
musicians founded the Association for
the Advancement of Creative Music
(AACM). "The purpose of this was for
groups to market the music, set up the
concerts, and have a forum to play they
own music without relying on the music
of others. We wanted it to be free," said
Fielder (Fielder interview). "AACM was
based out of Chicago, and these
musicians realized that free music
wasn't being played outside of New
York. So their music is completely free,
it was designed to elevate the music to
a new level," said Al's friend and former
SHS graduate Chad Anderson
(Anderson interview).
Roscoe Mitchell's Sextet was the first
album that Al was a part of. It was also
the first album released from the
AACM (Drimala website). Their first
album, released in 1967, was entitled
Sound. "Improvisational" music is what
describes the type of music Al enjoys to
play. This "improvisational" sound is
basically making up the tunes, beats,
and sounds as the song progresses. The
sound may not be delightful to the
untrained ear, but it is really beautiful
to listen to. Both the sounds and skills
of all the musicians, using their listening
abilities to "improvise" with one
another, is of critical importance in
making the music sound right. That's
why the music is always new and always
"in the moment" (Drimala website). In
1977, Al started a pharmacy in
Starkville, Mississippi. . At that time, he
lived in Meridian. Everyday, Al would
drive back and forth from home to work
and back again. In 1991, he decided the
driving was too much and decided to
leave his Starkville pharmacy. He
instead established a new pharmacy in
the Jackson area, where he had moved
to around 1978. Tied down with his
business, Al has found it difficult to play
as many shows as he used to.
Nevertheless, he still makes every
effort to keep active in the music arena.
Reflecting on his preparation activities,
Al indicated that "when a show is
coming up, I train like a boxer. I undergo
intense practices. I get to my drum set
and I practice the rudiments of getting
around the drum. I don't practice the
music, I am open minded, and improvise
on the spot." said Al (Fielder interview).
"Music is like painting a portrait or
creative writing. Drumming is not
beating on something. I think in terms
of actual music and rhythm. Like
writing, there is form to it. There has to
be a vocabulary to have good music.
There has to be a starting point and an
ending one" (Fielder interview). In
recent years Fielder joined with Joel
Futterman and Kidd Jordan to make the
album Nickelsdorf Knofrontation, and
in 1998 he recorded Southern Extreme
with them live at Mississippi State
University.
Biography written by Brian Beaulieu
(SHS)
2005 -2022 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc