Sadik Hakim

Sadik Hakim (born Forrest Argonne Thornton; July 15, 1919 – June 20, 1983) was an American jazz pianist and composer.

Sadik Hakim
Sadik Hakim circa 1965
Sadik Hakim circa 1965
Background information
Birth nameForrest Argonne Thornton
Born(1919-07-15)July 15, 1919
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedJune 20, 1983(1983-06-20) (aged 63)
New York City, New York
GenresJazz, bebop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1940s–1980s

Early life

Forrest Argonne Thornton was born on July 15, 1919, in Duluth, Minnesota.[1] The name Argonne came from the World War I battle.[1] He was taught music by his grandfather and played locally before moving to Chicago.[1]

Later life and career

In Chicago in 1944, Hakim was heard by the tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, who took him to New York to be the pianist in his band.[1] He appeared on some Charlie Parker recordings for Savoy Records in the following year.[1] He toured with another saxophonist, Lester Young from 1946 to 1948, including for recordings.[1] He changed his name to Sadik Hakim, a Muslim formulation, in 1947.[1][2]

"In the 1950s Hakim played in Canada with Louis Metcalf, toured with James Moody (1951–4), and was a member of Buddy Tate's orchestra (1956–60)."[1] Hakim's debut recording as a leader was in 1962, on an album for Charlie Parker Records that was shared with Duke Jordan.[3] "Around 1966 he moved to Montreal, where he played in nightclubs. He toured Europe for a year, played in a trio at a festival in Duluth (1976), and then returned to New York; he toured Japan in 1979–80."[1]

Hakim returned to recording as a leader in 1973, laying down material that was released by CBC, Progressive, SteepleChase, and Storyville Records.[3] Hakim claimed that he wrote "Eronel", which is usually thought of as a Thelonious Monk composition.[1]

Hakim died in New York City on June 20, 1983.[1] He has a daughter,[2] Louize Hakim, who is an apparel designer in Hawaii.

Playing style

Scott Yanow wrote that Hakim "had a particularly unusual boppish style in the '40s, playing dissonant lines, using repetition to build suspense, and certainly standing out from the many Bud Powell impressionists. Later in his career his playing became more conventional."[3] The Penguin Guide to Jazz compared him with Powell, and wrote that Hakim did not have a characteristic playing style.[4]

Discography

As leader
Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1962? East and West of Jazz Charlie Parker Album shared with Duke Jordan
1973 London Suite (aka Transcription, Canada, Sadik Hakim) Radio Canada International with Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr (alto sax), Billy Robinson (tenor sax), Peter Leitch (guitar), Vic Angelillo (bass), Keith 'Spike' McKendry (drums)
1974 Sadik Hakim Plays Duke Ellington (aka The Canadian Concert of Sadik Hakim) Radio Canada International with Brian Lydall (trumpet), Dale Hillary (alto sax), Michael Stewart (tenor sax), Bob Boucher (bass), Clayton Johnson (drums)
1977 Witches, Goblins, Etc. SteepleChase Trio, with Erroll Walters (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1978? Sonny Stitt Meets Sadik Hakim Co-led with Sonny Stitt (tenor sax, alto sax); quartet, with Buster Williams (bass), J.R. Mitchell (drums)
1978? Memories Progressive Solo piano
1980 Lazy Bird Storyville Trio, with Erroll Walters (bass), Clifford Barbaro (drums)

Main sources:[1][4]

As sideman

With James Moody

With Buddy Tate

References
  1. Rinzler, Paul; Kernfeld, Barry (2003), Hakim, Sadik [Thornton, (Forrest) Argonne; Dents], Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J183400
  2. "Sadik Hakim, 64, Jazz Pianist; Recorded with Charlie Parker". The New York Times. June 25, 1983.
  3. Yanow, Scott. "Sadik Hakim". AllMusic. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 628. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
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