Shafi Hadi

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Shafi Hadi
Birth nameWilliam Curtis Porter
Also known asShafi Hadi
Born(1929-09-21)September 21, 1929
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJune 1976(1976-06-00) (aged 46)
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Saxophonist

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.

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]

Hadi died in June 1976, at the age of 46.[14][15]

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]

As sideman[edit]

With Langston Hughes

With Charles Mingus

With Hank Mobley

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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]
  3. ^ 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]
  4. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Shafi Hadi: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  5. ^ Giddins, Gary (September 20, 2004). "Shadows: Eternal Times Square". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Dutch Jazz Orchestra. "Mary Lou Williams – Dutch Jazz Orchestra CDs". Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  8. ^ 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]
  9. ^ 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]
  10. ^ 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]
  11. ^ 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]
  12. ^ 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]
  13. ^ 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]
  14. ^ "William Curtis Porter". U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  15. ^ "Out of the Shadows: John Cassavetes: Highlights from Issue 34: Jazz". Stop Smiling. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  16. ^ 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.
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