Idris Muhammad

Idris Muhammad (born Leo Morris on 13 November 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana; إدريس محمد) is an American jazz drummer who has recorded extensively with a host of artists including Ahmad Jamal, Grant Green, Grover Washington, Hank Crawford, Gene Ammons, and Houston Person.

He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover Washington, Jr. He has been touring and recording with pianist Ahmad Jamal since 1995. At 16 years old, one of Muhammad's earliest recorded sessions as a drummer was on Fats Domino's 1956 hit "Blueberry Hill".

In 1966, he married Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (former member of the Crystals; she converted to Islam with him and went for a time under the name Sakinah Muhammad). They separated in 1999. Together, they have two sons and two daughters. Muhammad is an endorser of Istanbul Agop Cymbals.

In 2012 Xlibris released the book, "Inside The Music, The Life of Idris Muhammad" which he wrote with his friend Britt Alexander. The book has been enthusiastically received by the music community and musicians hailed it as a great look into his legend.

As leader

 * 1970: Black Rhythm Revolution (Prestige)
 * 1971: Peace & Rhythm (Prestige)
 * 1974: Power of Soul
 * 1976: House of the Rising Sun (Kudu)
 * 1977: Turn This Mutha Out (Kudu)
 * 1977: Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
 * 1978: Boogie to the Top
 * 1978: You Ain't No Friend of Mine
 * 1979: Fox Huntin'
 * 1980: Kabsha (Theresa Records)
 * 1980: Make It Count
 * 1992: My Turn
 * 1998: Right Now

As sideman
With Nat Adderley With Gene Ammons With George Benson With Rusty Bryant With Paul Desmond With Lou Donaldson With Charles Earland With Grant Green With Benjamin Herman With Andrew Hill With Freddie Hubbard With Bobbi Humphrey With Ahmad Jamal With J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding With Rodney Jones With Keystone Trio With Charles Kynard With Joe Lovano With Harold Mabern With Houston Person With Ernest Ranglin With Pharaoh Sanders With John Scofield With Shirley Scott With Lonnie Smith With Melvin Sparks With Leon Spencer With Sonny Stitt With Gábor Szabó With Randy Weston With Reuben Wilson With Kamal Abdul-Alim
 * 1968: Calling Out Loud (CTI)
 * 1970: The Black Cat! (Prestige)
 * 1971: You Talk That Talk! (Prestige)
 * 1971: My Way (Prestige)
 * 1972: Got My Own (Prestige)
 * 1972: Big Bad Jug (Prestige)
 * 1969: Tell It Like It Is (A&M/CTI)
 * Soul Liberation (Prestige, 1970)
 * Fire Eater (Prestige, 1971)
 * Wild Fire (Prestige, 1971)
 * 1968: Summertime (A&M/CTI)
 * 1965: Fried Buzzard (Cadet)
 * 1966: Blowing in the Wind (Cadet)
 * 1966: Lou Donaldson At His Best (Cadet)
 * 1967: Alligator Bogaloo (Blue Note)
 * 1967: Mr. Shing-A-Ling (Blue Note)
 * 1968: Midnight Creeper (Blue Note)
 * 1968: Say It Loud! (Blue Note)
 * 1969: Hot Dog (Blue Note)
 * 1970: Everything I Play is Funky (Blue Note)
 * 1970: Pretty Things (Blue Note)
 * 1970: The Scorpion (Blue Note)
 * 1971: Cosmos (Blue Note)
 * 1981: Sweet Poppa Lou (Muse)
 * Black Talk! (Prestige, 1969)
 * 1969: Carryin' On (Blue Note)
 * 1970: Green Is Beautiful (Blue Note)
 * 1970: Alive! (Blue Note)
 * 1999: Get In
 * 1968: Grass Roots
 * 2001: New Colors (Hip Bop Essence)
 * 1971: Flute In (Blue Note)
 * 1995: The Essence Part One (Birdology)
 * 1995: Big Byrd: The Essence Part 2 (Birdology)
 * 1997: Nature: The Essence Part Three (Birdology)
 * 2000: Picture Perfect (Birdology)
 * 2000: Ahmad Jamal 70th Birthday
 * 2002: In Search of Momentum (Dreyfus)
 * 2005: After Fajr (Dreyfus)
 * It's Magic (Dreyfus, 2008)
 * 1969: Betwixt & Between (A&M/CTI)
 * 1991: Soul Manifesto
 * 1996: Heart Beats
 * 1997: Newklear Music: The Songs of Sonny Rollins
 * Wa-Tu-Wa-Zui (Beautiful People) (Prestige, 1970)
 * 1998: Friendly Fire (Blue Note)
 * 2000: Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two (Blue Note)
 * Workin' & Wailin' (Prestige, 1969)
 * Greasy Kid Stuff! (Prestige, 1970)
 * Person to Person! (Prestige, 1970)
 * 1998: Below the Bassline (Island Records)
 * 1969: Jewels Of Thought (Impulse!)
 * 1980: Journey to the One (Theresa)
 * 1982: Heart is a Melody (Theresa)
 * 1982: Live (Theresa)
 * 1985: Shukuru (Theresa)
 * 1987: Africa (Timeless)
 * 1995: Groove Elation (Blue Note)
 * 1972: Lean on Me (Cadet)
 * 1969: Turning Point
 * Sparks! (Prestige, 1970)
 * Spark Plug (Prestige, 1971)
 * Akilah! (Prestige, 1972)
 * 1970: Sneak Preview (Prestige Records)
 * 1971: Louisiana Slim (Prestige)
 * 1971: Turn It On! (Prestige)
 * 1971: Black Vibrations (Prestige)
 * 1972: Goin' Down Slow (Prestige)
 * 1975: Macho (Salvation)
 * 1989: Portraits of Duke Ellington (Verve)
 * 1989: Portraits of Thelonious Monk (Verve)
 * 1989: Self Portraits (Verve)
 * 1991: Spirits of Our Ancestors (Verve)
 * 1969: Love Bug (Blue Note)
 * 1983: Dance (Stash)