Jimi Hendrix, Ustad Ravi Shankar, John Coltrane, Ziryab, The Master Musicians of Jajouka, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, Ornette Coleman, Bruce Lee, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Muhayideen Ibn Arabi, Amir Khusro, DJ Cheb i Sabbah, Karsh Kale, Mark Deutsch, Friedrich W. Nietzsche, Max Von Plank, Werner Heisenburg, Idires Shah, Miles Davis,
Many others - none of the above.
Sounds Like
Why are you here? What do you want?
You want music?
Sure, I can play music for you. I suppose I could entertain you.
But you want something greater; Something that speaks to your heart. Something ecstatic and sacred.
You want something more real than real.
Am I right?
I won't sing putrid love songs to an imaginary girl, or make background noise for somebody's drunken party.
I'm talking to YOU, to your inner self.
We must renew the world. Creation is not yet complete;
Your soul is a work in progress.
The temple of mediocre idols will burn.
No more shall we mutilate our hearts!
I am a Renegade Sufi.
It is an apt term, all things considered.
We will enjoy and appreciate this world, but will bow to no false idols. We are in this world, but not of it. We are not human beings having a spiritual experience: we are spiritual beings having a human experience - but we forgot. Walk with me a while; perhaps together we can remember.
Since you are intrigued by innovative ideas about music and unprecedented approach to sitar, love beauty, heroism, and communion with the Divine, strive for vastness of spirit and profundity of meditative reflection on existence, and you crave a romantic mysticism and the surrender to the dimensions of the spiritual and sensual, then by all means, welcome! You've come to the right place.
Thanks to all of you all over the world who have visited me, and enjoyed my music!!
The musical offerings you are enjoying were honed through years of hard work.
My musical journey began when I picked up the guitar shortly after Jimi Hendrix died; and began sitar on my 18th birthday.
After touring the Midwest US with a few rock bands, I moved to New York City in 1983.
My achievements since then include:
Building a home recording studio.
Countless sessions and live performances.
Teaching; privately, and with the Bronx School of Music and Art, and the Harlem School of the Arts.
Toured the US and Europe as a bandleader (Paris, Milan, Zurich, Copenhagen, etc.).
Received radio airplay in the US, Europe, Russia, and Indonesia.
The release of my next CD, and further Tours of the US and Europe are being planned.
Discography of self produced solo recordings:
"Life Experience" (out of print)
"Rainy Afternoon Meditation" (out of print)
"Dawoud & the New Culture Ensemble" (out of print)
"The Tao of Mystic Jaz" (available online)
"Renegade Sufi"
A sample of the recordings I played on as a sideman:
"The World is a Hustle", "Social Drug" - Lauryn Hill
"She Who Bleeds" - Shelley Nichole
"Fakir" Celt Islam Soundsystem
"Natural High" - Sena
"Evidence of Things Not Seen" - Marshall Jones
"Burning" - Musa Ricci
"Breath" - Kena Custage
"African Rain" Jojo Kao
"Interpreter of Desires", - Analoge Fakir
"Blessed Mustapha" Khaleed Muhammad
Credits with theater / dance include:
"Aerial Dance" (Dha-Fusion Productions)
"The Brothers Karamazov" (Frost / Friedman Productions).
"Windows," (Leon Azul Productions).
"When I Pray" Adia Whittaker / Ase Dance Company
"It's Wake Up Time" (Bilal Family Productions).
"The Answer" (Najiullah Productions).
"Indigenous Woman" (Muhayyideen Wisdom Theater Productions).
Credits with film scoring include:
"Sleep" (Rahi Arman Prod.)
"RAM" (One Life Productions. dir. Edwin Porres)
"Sukoon" (dir. Fareen Butt)
"Intoxicating Rhymes & Sobering Wine" (dir. Majid Beemtaha)
"One Voice; Our Youth" (dir. Muhammad Stewart)
"Beyond Baklava" (Sunshine Star productions)
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way" (Sunshine Star productions)
Radio stations that feature my music include:
M3 Radio - New York City, WBAI - New York City, WPAT - New York City, Galaxie Radio Ontario,Canada, WNWK - New York City, WFMU - Jersey City, NJ, All That Jazz Radio - Malaga, Spain, WTUL - Baton Rouge, LA, Radio Voce Spazio - San Michele Italy, RCV 99FM - Lille, France, Radio Novosibrisk - Novosibrisk Russia, Radiopolaze Italio - Milano Italy, 91.7fm WHUS, Storrs, CN Worldbeat on KOOP -FM, Austin TX, and other radio stations throughout the US, Europe, Russia, Poland, and Indonesia.
A large number of internet radio stations are also presenting my music.
My Teachers include:
Jeff Slatnick (former student of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan), Michael Harrison (Pandit Pran Nath, LaMonte Young), Kelvyn Bell (Lester Bowie, Roland Shannon Jackson, Kelvynator), Ustad Shaid Parvez Khan, Dr. Yusef Lateef, Pat Martino.
A few of the people I'd recorded and / or performed with:
Lauryn Hill, Yewande, Pamela West, Body Temple, Kelvyn Bell (Kelvynator, Lester Bowie,Arthur Blythe, Roland Shannon Jackson), Dean Bowman, Jessie "Cheese" Hameen (Brother Jesse played with everybody!), Abdou Mboup (Pharaoh Saunders, Joe Zawinul, etc.), Marie Alphonzo(Zap Mama), The Mysterious Tremendum Ensemble, Ravish Momin, Ustad Muzallim Hussain,
Jojo Kao (Fela Kuti), Akim Funk Buddha & Dha-Fusion, Steve Swell, Daniel Carter, Sabir Matin, Sayyd Abdul Khabir (Duke Ellington, Count Basie), Bob Cunningham (played with everyone!), Rahn Burton (Rahsaan Roland Kirk),
Larajji, Junni Booth (Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Elvin Jones,Larry Young), Tony Jones (Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, etc), Harry Whittaker, Mansoor Scott, Shelly Nichole's Blak Bushe, Tonya Ridgely, and many others.
I am available for performances, recordings, tours, commissions for compositions (for musical events, theater, film, dance, etc.), music instruction, and diverse events where beautiful and powerful music is needed (including meditation, yoga, martial arts classes, or whatever we can imagine!). Contact me at dawoud@renegadesufi.com or renegadesufi@gmail.com.
What truly interests me is creating for the listener a unique and transformational experience. It is vitally important to me that I serve my audience in this way.
And now you are part of my audience too! I'm happy to have you here!
Dawoud performing a solo improvisation on the theme to his composition "Will to Power" (from his upcoming CD). The entire performance, as well as a full concert and interviews, will be available on DVD soon.
Missed your Nov. 8th gig and ain't happy about it! Look fwd to catchin your next ones round the area* And to chat soon with ya* And great fotos! PeacElon.
Ramadhaan Kareem ya sidi, the new album is out soon with you on it lets chat on google when ya free brother so i can send you some copies of the album, much love ma salaama, Abdullah
Thanks for the add Dawoud and showing your support for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund! We think that your music is incredible and inspiring and would love to work with you on something. http://www.sweetrelief.org
Online Now!
lets chat on google when ya free brother so i can send you some copies of the album, much love ma salaama, Abdullah
