Person · Male
Pheeroan akLaff
- From
- Detroit, United States
- Since
- 1955–present
- Releases
- 3
- avant-garde jazz
- jazz
About
Pheeroan akLaff (born Paul Maddox; January 27, 1955) is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. He began playing in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan and Ann Arbor, with R & B keyboardist Travis Biggs, funk keyboardist Nimrod “The Grinder” Lumpkin, The Ebony Set and The Last Days. He moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and formed a group with saxophonist/flautist/percussionist Dwight Andrews. He debuted with saxophonist Bill Barron in 1975, followed by a tenure in Leo Smith's ‘New Dalta Ahkri’ (1977–1979).
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akLaff developed a longstanding association with saxophonist and poet Oliver Lake starting in 1975, which included writing for their fusion ensemble, ‘Jump Up’. He recorded with Lake on and off from 1980–1992. His extensive work as a session musician includes collaborations with prominent jazz musicians Geri Allen, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton, Don Byron, Julius Hemphill, Henry Threadgill, Mal Waldron, Sonny Sharrock, Anthony Davis and Reggie Workman. In 2006 he co-founded Seed Artists in Brooklyn. In 2009, he reestablished his creative partnership with Wadada Leo Smith after thirty years, and has recorded with him since, including Ten Freedom Summers, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2013. akLaff currently teaches music at Wesleyan University.
Member of
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Air drums (drum set)
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Oliver Lake Trio membranophone
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Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quintet drums (drum set)
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Leo Smith Creative Orchestra percussion, drums (drum set)
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Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra percussion, drums (drum set)
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Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre Trio drums (drum set)
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Fool Proof drums (drum set)
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Bobby Zankel / Wonderful Sound 8 percussion, drums (drum set)
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Henry Threadgill Sextett percussion, drums (drum set)
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Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet drums (drum set)
Discography
Links
Also known as
Paul Maddox
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 360cb0b5-dc4e-4fd5-b52c-efe4b0e9e27a
- ISNI
- 0000000055138083
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 6 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.