In 1990 I interviewed drummer Rashied Ali for The World According to John Coltrane, a documentary produced and directed by Toby Byron. It was the first but not the last time I spoke to Ali, a sorely underrated musician and jazz presence who died yesterday (August 12, 2009) following a heart attack at age 74. Here’s a transcript of our talk, slightly edited and annotated, mostly about Coltrane, with whom Ali became famous.Â
Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks
A 1990 interview with drummer Rashied Ali, about his relationship with John Coltrane.