Biography

Pheeroan akLaff’s signature drumming of over thirty years with adventuresome composers has been voluminously documented. His musical background of Detroit was broadened by living and working in Abidjan, and by meeting Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Sonny Okosun, and Steve Rhodes through Frank T. Fairfax. He participated in U.S. State Department touring of nine African nations, the Near East, and India. His associations with Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, Anthony Davis, Henry Threadgill, Sonny Sharrock, Yamashita Yosuke, Liu Sola, Henry Brant, and Andrew Hill present him within the light of expansive musical systems.

Pheeroan has headlined at the Willisau festival of Switzerland, the Sju festival of the Netherlands, the Montsalvat festival of Australia, the Moers, and the Nurnberg festivals of Germany. He led the Double Duo ensemble with his mentor Rashied Ali.

He performs solo concerts in Japanese temples, and on theater stages. He edited and performed “Frederick Douglass Chronicles” from the published letters of the 19th Century statesman.

His educational forums and teaching began at New School University, New York, and Wesleyan University of Connecticut, and have continued in Japan, Austria, Poland, Korea and Colombia. Pheeroan’s latest recording Dear Freedom Suite Live in Japan Volume One becomes available this Spring.

More recordings to hear are:
Pheeroan’s first solo percussion/vocal work House of Spirit :Mirth, 1979, Fits Like A Glove; 1983, Sonogram; 1988, and Global Mantras;1997.