William Curtis Porter (September 21, 1929 – June 1976), better known as Shafi Hadi, was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist known for his recordings with Charles Mingus and with Hank Mobley.
Shafi Hadi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Curtis Porter |
| Also known as | Shafi Hadi |
| Born | September 21, 1929 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 1976 (aged 46) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist |
Biography edit
Hadi was born as William Curtis Porter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1929.[1][2] The 1930 Census indicated his parents were William Porter and Harriette Porter.[3] At age 6, he received piano lessons from his grandmother.[2] Later, he studied musical composition at Howard University and University of Detroit.[2] Hadi performed with rhythm and blues artists such as Paul Williams, Ruth Brown, and the Griffin Brothers.[2]
Hadi recorded with bassist Charles Mingus between 1956 and 1958.[2] He also recorded with tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley.[4] Hadi improvised the soundtrack music for John Cassavetes's film Shadows, then returned to Mingus's group in 1959.[2][5] He also collaborated with Mary Lou Williams on her 1977 composition "Shafi", although the extent of Hadi's contribution is unclear.[6][7] The 1977 Copyright filing EU841296 by Mary Lou Williams credited words to Hadi, pseud. of Shafi Porter, with music and arrangement credited to Mary Lou Williams.[8]
During the 1950s, Hadi was also active in painting.[2] Between 1965 and 1969 he co-wrote five songs with Lionel Hampton or Gladys Hampton: Bye, Bye,[9] Hamp Stamps,[10] No, Say No,[11] A Sketch Of Gladys,[12] and Mama Knows.[13]
Playing style edit
Brian Priestley describes Hadi's performance style as a "distinctive mixture of bop and blues, combined with a very individual tone."[6] Martin Williams, writing in 1958, described Hadi's playing as being "both contemporary and a reflection of an apprenticeship in rhythm and blues bands."[16]
Discography edit
As leader edit
- Debut Rarities, Vol. 3 (1957, Original Jazz Classics) – Shafi Hadi Sextet[1]
As sideman edit
With Langston Hughes
- Weary Blues (MGM, 1958)
With Charles Mingus
- The Clown (1957 ; Atlantic Records)
- Tijuana Moods (1957; (issued 1962) RCA Records)
- East Coasting (1957; Bethlehem Records)
- A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry (1957; Bethlehem)
- Mingus Ah Um (1959; Columbia Records)
- Tonight at Noon (1961; Atlantic)
With Hank Mobley
- Hank Mobley (1957; Blue Note Records)
References edit
- ^ a b arwulf, arwulf [sic]. "Debut Rarities, Vol. 3". Allmusic. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
Discographical indexes list the band under the name of the Shafi Hadi Sextet.
- ^ a b c d e f g Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (1999). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford: Oxford UP. p. 283. [dead link][ISBN missing]
- ^ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RC8-Q8Y?i=31&cc=1810731&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXH4L-4NJ [bare URL]
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Shafi Hadi: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ^ Giddins, Gary (September 20, 2004). "Shadows: Eternal Times Square". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Priestley, Brian (2004). The Rough Guide to Jazz. Rough Guides (3rd ed.). London: Rough Guides, Ltd. pp. 321–322. ISBN 1-84353-256-5. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ Dutch Jazz Orchestra. "Mary Lou Williams – Dutch Jazz Orchestra CDs". Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ https://cdn.loc.gov/service/copyright/hprcatcard/19/71/19/77/PO/RT/ER/_J/-Z/19711977PORTER_J-Z/CC19711977PORTER_J-Z.0740.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ https://cdn.loc.gov/service/copyright/hprcatcard/19/55/19/70/PO/RT/E-/PO/RT/ER/_C/19551970PORTE-PORTER_C/CC19551970PORTE-PORTER_C.0897.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ https://cdn.loc.gov/service/copyright/hprcatcard/19/55/19/70/PO/RT/E-/PO/RT/ER/_C/19551970PORTE-PORTER_C/CC19551970PORTE-PORTER_C.1055.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ https://cdn.loc.gov/service/copyright/hprcatcard/19/55/19/70/PO/RT/E-/PO/RT/ER/_C/19551970PORTE-PORTER_C/CC19551970PORTE-PORTER_C.1371.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ https://cdn.loc.gov/service/copyright/hprcatcard/19/55/19/70/PO/RT/E-/PO/RT/ER/_C/19551970PORTE-PORTER_C/CC19551970PORTE-PORTER_C.1482.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ https://cdn.loc.gov/service/copyright/hprcatcard/19/55/19/70/PO/RT/E-/PO/RT/ER/_C/19551970PORTE-PORTER_C/CC19551970PORTE-PORTER_C.1287.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ "William Curtis Porter". U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "Out of the Shadows: John Cassavetes: Highlights from Issue 34: Jazz". Stop Smiling. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Martin (1992) [1958]. "The Weary Blues and Other Poems Read by Langston Hughes". Jazz Changes. Oxford University Press. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-19-535936-7. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
