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Akbar DePriest (May 16, 1930 – May 2, 2007) was an American jazz drummer.
Life and career
Akbar DePriest was born on May 16, 1930, in Imperial, California, where he was also raised.
DePriest began his musical career in 1955, playing with Big Maybelle, George Estridge, and in Chicago with Eddie Harris. For three years, he performed in New York City with Sarah McLawler and Richard Otto, recorded with saxophonist John Coltrane and then toured with tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons. He then played in Denver, Colorado, with Joe Keel, Dee Minor, and Milt Cannon.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk, with whom he also appeared, "baptized" him on his stage name.
In 1971, DePriest went to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he performed with Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Johnny Griffin, Ben Webster, Charlie Mariano, Richard Boone, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Don Cherry. On his return to Denver, he founded the Drummers Supper Club with Blue Mitchell, Dianne Reeves, Joe Keel, and Dee Minor.
In 1985, he joined the group of Charles Lewis in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In 1987, DePriest moved to Portland, Oregon, where he founded The DePriest Project with Brad Herrett, Hadley Caliman, Jay Collins, Joe Keel, and Thara Memory. In 1990, they released a 4-track album "Live On The Willamette." It was followed by "Central Avenue: Roots" in 1996, "Central Avenue Roots" in 1998, and "The DePriest Project: Inclusion" in 2000.
In 1988, DePriest performed at the Portland Art Museum with an ensemble consisting of Thara Memory, Gordon Lee, and Phil Baker. Next, he founded the Akbar Priest Quartet with Janice Scroggins, Bobby Bryant Jr., Tim Gilson, and Leslie Henderson and worked on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation with the Indian saxophonist Jim Pepper and Phil Sparks, and Mal Waldron.
In 1991, DePriest started the DePriest Project Family Jazz Concerts series.
He also worked as a music teacher.
Selected discography
- Central Avenue: Roots with Thara Memory, Janice Scroggins, Bennie Maupin – 1996
- Live! On the Willamette with Jay Collins, Brad Herrett, Hadley Caliman – 1997
- The DePriest Project: Inclusion with Phil Sparks (bass), Marie DePriest (bells and vocals), Nat Yarbrough (drums), Gordon Lee (piano), Javon Jackson (tenor saxophone), and Habiba Addo (vocals) – 2000
Death
DePriest died of liver cancer on May 2, 2007, in Portland, Oregon. He was 77.