The drummer Abdul Zahir Batin is a mysterious character. Over the years, he’s recorded with Archie Shepp and Sunny Murray and worked with Kaki Byard, Howard McGhee, and others. If you look for him online, though, most references are to him selling his only recording as leader on the streets of New York. Per YouTube, he was still doing so just a couple of years ago, even though the recording was made for Cadence Jazz Records in 1986.
Live at the Jazz Cultural Theatre features His Notorious
Ensemble, a floating aggregation of musicians gathered together to play Zahir Batin’s
music. This edition features a 1980s all-star roster: Bobby Watson (as), Cecil
Bridgewater (tpt), John Hicks (piano), Robin Eubanks (trom), and Curtis Lundy
(bass). Most of the compositions are by the leader, except for a polyphonic
medley of standards. In content, they’re hard driving post-bop tunes with excellent
solos all around.
In Islamic thought, “zahir” represents outward reality, whereas
“batin” stands for the inner meaning of things. True to his art and spirituality,
Zahir Batin may still be out there, offering his music to the public in the
most direct way possible. I like to think that he’s still around, and that one
day—post-COVID—I’ll
encounter him and buy another copy (the used one I have is inscribed and autographed
by the artist, but not to me, of course). Meanwhile, think about what it takes
to be true to your faith and your art, why don’t you?
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