Ahmed Abdul-Malik

Ahmed Abdul-Malik (1927-1993) was an American double bassist and oud player, born Jonathan Tim Jr. in Brooklyn. He played bass with Art Blakey, Randy Weston and Thelonious Monk, and from the late 1950s he led his own groups that set jazz against the modes and rhythms of Arabic and African music. He is known for bringing the oud and Middle Eastern forms into jazz. Ahmed Abdul-Malik studied violin as a child and played in New York's All-City Orchestra while at the High School of Music & Art. He was in Monk's group in 1957-58 and plays on Misterioso.