Idrees Sulieman born August 7, 1923

Idrees Sulieman (August 7, 1923 – July 23, 2002), born Leonard Graham, was a bop and hard-bop trumpeter who achieved more success in Europe than the United States but left a worldwide legacy as a sideman on some of the most important recordings in jazz and as a composer of unusual, beautiful pieces.

Brass section Carolina Cotton Pickers

Born Leonard Graham in St. Petersburg, FL, in 1923; he changed his name to Idrees Sulieman when he converted to Islam. Sulieman originally wanted to be a sax player, but switched to the trumpet because his father could not afford a saxophone. His passion for music brought him to the prestigious Boston Conservatory in the mid-1930s. Shortly after, he began his professional career playing with the Carolina Cotton Pickers in 1939 and the wartime Earl Hines Orchestra (1943-1944). Bird and Diz were both in the Hines Band then and it had a profound effect on Sulieman. Diz’s play inspired Sulieman to perfect his own style.

Sulieman & Monk

The 1940s brought Idrees into the circles of some of the most important figures in jazz—he worked closely with Mary Lou Williams and Thelonious Monk. In fact, on October 15, 1947 Sulieman’s played on Monk’s first recording for Blue Note Records. He then became a member of Cab Calloway's band in 1948. By the mid’50’s, he had found his niche as a top flight bebop sideman. He appeared on Max Roach’s first studio album in 1953 and alongside Gigi Gryce on Mal-1, Mal Waldron’s first disc. 

In 1956 he played in Fredrich Gulda's ensemble of American musicians. Other notable turns as a sideman or co-leader include The Hawk Flies High (1957) a Coleman Hawkins session,  Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors, along with John Coltrane, Donald Byrd and Bobby Jaspar; Coolin’ with vibraphonist Teddy Charles and Waldron; Three Trumpets with Byrd and Art Farmer and the aforementioned The Cats with Coltrane. He gigged with Randy Weston (1958–1959), in addition to appearing with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.

                                       

He toured Europe in the late 50's with pianist Oscar Dennard, and stayed, settling in Stockholm at first, where he became fairly proficient playing the alto saxophone with Eric Dolphy, Bud Powell and Don Byas. He also returned to big band work, with a decade’s worth of fine recordings. the Danish Radio Orchestra, after moving to Copenhagen. A soloist with the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band from the mid-1960s through 1973, Sulieman frequently worked with the Danish Radio Orchestra and the Danish Radio Big Band under Thad Jones.  In Europe, he had steady work and a significant following.

Although Sulieman was on the scene for parts of six decades, his discography as a leader is surprisingly thin.  His album for Swedish Columbia (1964) and three albums for Steeplechase(1976 - 1985) are all available. The best of these is Now Is The Time, from 1976, with Cedar Walton, Sam Jones and Higgins. In 1985, he was among the performers on Miles Davis's album Aura, which was not released until 1989. Sulieman's career slowed down considerably in the 1990s and he moved back to St. Petersburg. 

Though he performed sparingly during his later years, Sulieman remained a prolific composer.  His estate includes a horde of compositions that were never recorded. In semi-retirement, he would spend his days practicing and writing new compositions, often calling Don Sickler in New York to play them for him over the phone. Sickler’s publishing company, Second Floor Music, published the tunes but much of it is still unperformed. Brian Lynch has begun to rectify that, by recording four Sulieman works on his Unsung Heroes project.

Sulieman died of bladder cancer at St. Anthony’s Hospital in his native St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 23, 2002 at the age of 78. He left an impressive and eclectic body of work that should be heard; though it takes a bit of cross referencing to find.

(Edited from Curtjazz.com, Jazz Lead Sheets & Wikipedia)