Major Works
- Sound– Roscoe Mitchell Sextet, on Delmark Records
- History Is Made Every Second– New Orleans Now, The Lifters, on Prescription Records
- No Compromise– Improvisational Arts Quintet, on Prescription Records 9002
- Liquid Majic– Ahmed Abudullah Quartet, on Silkheart 104
- Bannar – Charles Bracken Quartet, on Silkheart 105
- Namesake – Dennis Gonzalez, New Dallas Sextet, on Silkheart 106
- Debenge-Debenge – Dennis Gonzalez, New Dallasorleansippi, on Silkheart 112
- The Desert Wind– Dennis gonzalez, New Dallasangels, on Silkheart 124
- Nickelsdorf Konfrontation– Futterman/Jordan Quintet, on Silkheart 143
- New Orleans Rising– Futterman/Jordan Quartet, on Konex 5076
- Southern Extreme– Futterman/Jordan Trio with Alvin Fielder, on Drimala Records 98.001-01
- A Measure of Vision–Alvin Fielder Trio
Alvin Fielder: A Biography
by Brian Beaulieu (SHS)
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.
Timeline
- 1935–November 23, born in Meridian ,Mississippi
- 1941–Age 6, began playing the piano
- 1947–Age 12, began playing the drums
- 1951- Attended Xavier College in New Orleans
- 1953–Went to Texas Southern
- 1956- Went to University of Illinois for graduate school to become a pharmacist
- 1963- Co-founded the AACM
- 1967- First album Sound came out on Delmark Records
- 1977- Was a pharmacist in Starkville, Mississippi
- 1978- Moved to Jackson, Mississippi
- 1982- History is Made Every Second was recorded with The Lifters
- 1996- Joined Joel Futterman and Kidd Jordan and made album Nickelsdorf Konfrontation
- 1998- Recorded Southern Extreme at Mississippi State University, Live with Futterman and Jordan
Interview with Alvin Fielder, 11/19/98 by Phone
by Brian Beaulieu (SHS)
Brian Beaulieu (SHS)
What inspired you to be a drummer?
“When I was about 12 years old, a friend of mine, who was a drummer himself, gave me an album called Koko. The drummer on that album was Max Roach. He really inspired me; so from then on, I decided I wanted to become a drummer.”
What are you striving for personally?
“Being well known is not important. Knowing that I have worked on my craft is important. I know I will never be famous, but I am me, and I want my drumming to exhibit my personality. It’s not a competition at all but the ability to be able to make good music with anybody and play well. I have never sought to be a great drummer, just a good drummer that makes the music more beautiful.”
The improvisational music that you play, how did this come about?
“It basically comes from listening. It’s just an extension of our country’s music. It’s music that started years ago in the 1950’s and early 60’s. When we play in a concert, we go on-stage and literally mind wise, we are totally naked. We think of nothing. The music starts from nothing. Some times the music is creative, other times it is not. It comes from the experience of the musicians – what they have gone through for 30 or 40 years.”
Was there any highlight in your career that stands out the most?
“I’ve played in good groups with excellent musicians. Its not just a job; it’s an event. But everyone I have played with I have enjoyed.”
What has inspired you to keep going for so many years?
“Music is a challenge. You constantly practice; you never reach your peak. You are never satisfied. Once you become satisfied, it’s time to stop.”
Related Websites
- Article and 2007 interview with Alvin Fielder on All About Jazz called It’s About Time. Note: The Alvin Fielder biography on All About Jazz is taken directly from this site without permission.
Bibliography
- Interview with Chad Anderson. Telephone interview on November 18, 1998
- Interview with Alvin Fielder. Telephone interview on November 19, 1998
- Online at http://www.drimala.com/Fielder.htm- Drimala Record company’s page
- Online at http://www.jazzlife.com/trio/music.html- This is Chad Anderson’s page, includes trio that Al is currently playing in
- Online at http://www.jazzvisionsphotos.com/j-k-trio.htm