About Me
ABDU SALIM
Tenor and
Soprano SaxophonesBorn in Gilmer (Texas) in 1950, he was four years old,
when he began to play the piano. Finishing high
school, in 198 he had performed on most of the instruments
in the school band, and sang in several choirs.
It was this graduating year, that he entered Texas
Southern University at Houston, Texas. At this university
he received his first music lessons. While in
Houston he met and became good friends with ARNET
COBB. He toured with JOHNNY COPLAND and another
summer stint was done with JOE TURNER.
From 1970 to 1978 he was in the U.S. Navy as a radar
technician. During this period he was limited to play in
local groups in and near the cities to which he was stationed.
He played R&B, Rock, with symphony orchestras,
country and western groups, and toured with
gospel choirs.
While he was in Spain, he toured with the rock group
IMAN. In 1978 through 1979 he returned to Texas. At
Texas College he studied classical harmony and taught
saxophone, flute and Jazz harmony.
From 1979 to 1983 Abdu Salim was in the U.S. Army,
acting as instructor in music theory and ear training
instructor in the Navy school of Music in Norfolk. Here
he formed his first Jazz group F.J.B., with the drummer
JAE STINNET.
In 1981 he was stationed in South Korea, where he led
the Korean edition of F.J.B. This band was the number
one musical group in South Korea for most of that
year.
In Korea, Abdu Salim recorded numerous TV and Radio
shows and his group worked in two clubs in Seoul
every night. There he composed ..A rose without a
thorne... This tune has been recorded by JOHN HICKS
in the CD : ..Two of a kind.. (JOHN HICKS .. RAY DRUMMOND).
In 1983 Abdu Salim returned to Norfolk and finished
his army contract. Meanwhile he performed with JOHN
HICKS, FRANK FOSTER, JAE SINNET, BILLY TAYLOR,
BILLY DRUMMOND, STEVE WILSON and others.
Abdu Salim arrived in Sevilla (Spain) during the summer
of 1983 with four (4) compositions. In the summer
of 1985, he had twenty four (24).
Abdu Salim founded the first jazz school in Andalucia,
and performed numerous concerts with student
groups and other European and American musicians.
In the studios he has recorded for a variety of groups,
ranging from Spanish Folklore, Theater, Rock and two
films scores.
In Spain and southern France he has worked with
BILLY BROOKS, LOU BENNET, LOU DONALDSON, LONNIE
SMITH, IDRIS MUHAMMAD and others.
Since 1987 he has been the saxophonist for LOU BENNET.
Also in 1987 he received an award from the
Spanish Radio Station ..Radio Cadena Pop.. for his
contribution to the formation and practice of Jazz in
Andalucia.
In 1991 Abdu Salim received two ..DEXTER GORDON
AWARDs.. from the Spanish TV Program ..Jazz entre
amigos..; one for his quartet and the other as solist.
Among his latest accomplishments is his composition
..Blue Jae.., which has been recorded on the CD of THE
HARPER BROTHERS.
Abdu Salim interprets also three (3) of his compositions
on the latest CD of LOU BENNET ..Now hear my
meaning.., recorded in Barcelona with guest drummer
IDRIS MUHAMMAD.
He also played with FRANK LACY, ALAIN JEAN-MARIE,
BILLY HART, GREG BANDY, SLIDE HAMPTON, ELLIS
MARSALLIS, PHILIP HARPER and others.
Abdu Salim is also well-known in Belgium and in
France. He is a natural musician with a wide variety of
musical and theatrical experiences and he brings them
all together in every performance.
ABDU SALIM IN EXILE Directed: Ricard Rois
