Biography
Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad are three influential musicians whose collaboration bridges generations of jazz, funk, and hip-hop. Roy Ayers, born in Los Angeles in 1940, is a legendary vibraphonist and composer, widely regarded as a pioneer of jazz-funk and a foundational figure in the development of acid jazz and neo-soul. His career began in the 1960s, and by the 1970s, with his band Ubiquity, Ayers was blending jazz with R&B, disco, and soul, crafting a sound that would be heavily sampled by later hip-hop and electronic artists. He toured globally, including a notable stint in Nigeria with Fela Kuti, and his music has influenced countless musicians across genres.[3][5]
Adrian Younge, a Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer, is known for his analog recording techniques and cinematic, Blaxploitation-inspired soul and funk. Younge's work includes collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan, Souls of Mischief, and Jay-Z. Ali Shaheed Muhammad, born in Brooklyn in 1970, is best known as a founding member of the seminal hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, as well as the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. Muhammad's deep roots in hip-hop and jazz have made him a key figure in bridging classic jazz with contemporary sounds.[1][2][4]
Together, Younge and Muhammad formed The Midnight Hour and launched the 'Jazz Is Dead' project, a series of albums and live events designed to celebrate and revitalize jazz by collaborating with legendary musicians. Their 2020 album with Roy Ayers, 'Roy Ayers JID 002,' was recorded in Los Angeles and is celebrated for capturing the spirit of Ayers' classic 1970s work while infusing it with modern sensibilities. This collaboration stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of jazz-funk and the power of intergenerational musical dialogue.[2][3][5]
Fun Facts
- Roy Ayers is often called the 'Godfather of Neo-Soul' for his foundational influence on the genre.[5]
- Adrian Younge is also a law professor specializing in copyright and music sampling.[3]
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 as a member of A Tribe Called Quest.[1]
- The 'Jazz Is Dead' project was named provocatively to challenge perceptions and reinvigorate interest in jazz among younger audiences.[2][4]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Herbie Mann - Roy Ayers played in Herbie Mann's band early in his career, which helped shape his jazz sensibilities. (Albums with Herbie Mann (late 1960s)) [1960s]
- Q-Tip - Ali Shaheed Muhammad's musical partnership with Q-Tip in A Tribe Called Quest was formative for his style. (A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1990–2016]
Key Collaborators
- Fela Kuti - Roy Ayers toured Nigeria with Fela Kuti, blending Afrobeat with jazz-funk. (Touring and live performances) [1970s]
- The Midnight Hour - Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad's genre-defying ensemble blending jazz, soul, and hip-hop. (The Midnight Hour (2018 album)) [2018–present]
- Souls of Mischief - Younge and Muhammad collaborated on the album 'There Is Only Now.' (There Is Only Now (2014)) [2013–2014]
- Lucy Pearl - Ali Shaheed Muhammad was a member of this R&B supergroup. (Lucy Pearl (2000 album)) [1999–2001]
Artists Influenced
- Erykah Badu - Roy Ayers' jazz-funk and neo-soul innovations influenced Badu's sound. (Erykah Badu's neo-soul albums) [1990s–present]
- Tyler, The Creator - Roy Ayers' music has been sampled and cited as an influence by Tyler. (Tyler, The Creator's albums) [2010s–present]
- Neo-soul and acid jazz artists - Ayers' pioneering sound shaped entire genres. (Works by Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, etc.) [1990s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mama's Gun | 2000-10-31 | Album |
| You Send Me | 1978 | Album |
| Roy Ayers JID002 | 2020-06-19 | Album |
| Red, Black & Green | 1973-01-01 | Album |
| The Vision | 2020-11-13 | Album |
| A Brighter Day | 2000-01-01 | Album |
| Fever | 1979-04-25 | Album |
Top Tracks
- FIND YOUR WINGS (feat. Roy Ayers, Sydney Bennett & Kali Uchis) (Cherry Bomb)
- Cleva (Mama's Gun)
- Liquid Love
- Running Away
- Take A Look (At Yourself) (Jazzmatazz Volume 1)
- FIND YOUR WINGS (feat. Roy Ayers, Sydney Bennett & Kali Uchis) (Cherry Bomb + Instrumentals)
- Love Will Bring Us Back Together (Fever)
- Mystic Voyage
- You Send Me (You Send Me)
- I Am Your Mind (Part 2)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad has been played 8 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2025 | 21:26 | he gives us all his love | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Dec 4, 2025 | 08:05 | Virgo Vibesfrom Virgo Vibes | The Morning Setw/ Scott Borne | |
| Nov 11, 2025 | 08:55 | Shadows of the Eastfrom Roy Ayers JID002 | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire | |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 15:51 | Everybody Loves The Sunshinefrom Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Bluesw/ DJ Giant | |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 06:50 | Wavefrom Stoned Soul Picnic | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire | |
| Oct 21, 2025 | 07:36 | Everybody Loves The Sunshinefrom Everybody Loves The Sunshine | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire | |
| Oct 18, 2025 | 20:51 | Turn Me Loosefrom Feeling Good | Soul Powerw/ Soul Sister | |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 06:56 | Lil's Paradisefrom Stoned Soul Picnic | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire |