Rashied Ali was a musician, and a seeker of wisdom and understanding. A person who loved life, cherished his family, wife, children, grandchildren, father and brothers. They were all music to Rashied, all drenched in a curtain of rhythmic, melody and harmony. The Ali's are bright spirits who know how to sing about the beautiful things. They will carry on the spirit of music. I thank them for sharing Rashied Ali with the world. The music is calling, reaching out to us with open arms. And Rashied answered the cry with a deft creativity and urgency. He never gave up on himself or anyone else within his world. When Rashied spoke about his children, there was a glow on his face that would not let up. We would laugh, that deep laugh that brings tears to your eyes. When you wipe away those tears, you can see the sun rise.

The entire history of music and black people in America is another stroke that exist in this canvas. The Uncles and Aunts sitting and talking and just about that time, God taps on the shoulder, whispering something about cosmic music and one feels the strength to carry on, yet another day. Music is the light and the shadows. The soul is wide open and we are vulnerable to the joy that comes when the music / life unite in that very special way. Rashied Ali is missed not because he played drums with John Coltrane because he was Rashied Ali drummer, human being. Rashied was one of my mentors he showed me possibilities expanding the limits while at the same time never forgetting the tradition of the self, the blues and the new. I met Rashied around 1973. We were playing at club called Hillys On The Bowery. I was new in town, from the Bronx. Mr. Ali was generous and kind, the music great. Later when Ali's Alley opened up it was the only place that we could play for an entire week, developing our music. Again Rashied was giving his all.

Roger Blank did the plumbing. It taught us not to wait on anything. Self Determination It was a glorious period: Dialogue Of the Drums, Milford Graves, Rashied Ali, Andrew Cyrille, looking out and there was Dewey Johnson, Frank Lowe, James Boold Ulmer, George Adams, Frank Wright, Benny Wilson, Paul Murphy, Jimmy Vass, C Sharpe, Carlos Ward, Sirone, Marion Brown, Charles Gayle, Archie Shepp, Earl Cross, Sonny Johnson, Marvin Blackman, Royal Blue, ...yes it all danced.

Rashied Ali could play any kind of music. We once did an all notated score dedicated to Gertrude Stein, and he brought life into it. We were speaking about his gigs with Lee Konitz a few months ago. It is unbelievable that he is gone. He will never be forgotten...

-- William Parker