Pheeroan akLaff is a Detroit born drum-set doyen who emerged amid a cadre of New York based composers and improvisors. Mentored by Travis Biggs, "Pistol" Allen, Randall Hicks, Dwight Andrews, Robert Ferris Thompson, Rashied Ali, and Billy Hart, he made his first New York performances with Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, Anthony Davis, Henry Threadgill, and Amina Claudine Myers.
His residencies and performances in Africa, Asia and South America have been numerous. In 1981 he worked with Marie Rose Guiraud in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire, and met with Frank Fairfax III, Fela Kuti, Sonny Okosun, and Steve Rhodes in Lagos Nigeria. He performed and tutored in State Department tours of Africa and Asia with Oliver Lake in 1982, and with Jay Hoggard in 1985.
House of Spirit Mirth, Fits Like A Glove, Sonogram, Brooklyn Waters, and Global Mantras feature his compositions. Pheeroan is known for his percussion accompaniment with Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill, Yamashita Yosuke, Tom Pierson, Dewey Redman, Reggie Workman, Sonny Sharrock and many elders and peers. Music related neuroscience research, and intergenerational civic enrichment with arts, keep him cooking.
Recent AFA Performances:
June 19, 2020 On_Line Salon w/ Lee Mixashawn Rozie & Rick Rozie
Website: https://pheeroanaklaff.com/home
His residencies and performances in Africa, Asia and South America have been numerous. In 1981 he worked with Marie Rose Guiraud in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire, and met with Frank Fairfax III, Fela Kuti, Sonny Okosun, and Steve Rhodes in Lagos Nigeria. He performed and tutored in State Department tours of Africa and Asia with Oliver Lake in 1982, and with Jay Hoggard in 1985.
House of Spirit Mirth, Fits Like A Glove, Sonogram, Brooklyn Waters, and Global Mantras feature his compositions. Pheeroan is known for his percussion accompaniment with Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill, Yamashita Yosuke, Tom Pierson, Dewey Redman, Reggie Workman, Sonny Sharrock and many elders and peers. Music related neuroscience research, and intergenerational civic enrichment with arts, keep him cooking.
Recent AFA Performances:
June 19, 2020 On_Line Salon w/ Lee Mixashawn Rozie & Rick Rozie
Website: https://pheeroanaklaff.com/home