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Take Five With Majid Khaliq

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By AAJ Staff
February 18, 2011
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Meet Majid Khaliq:

Majid Khaliq is a violinist and composer cut from a different cloth. He has been described by legendary musician

Wynton Marsalis

trumpet
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Wynton Marsalis as having "a unique blend of improvisation, groove and technical sophistication." Although classically trained, Khaliq's passion and musical palette ranges from the roots of American jazz music to the greats of the progressive jazz scene. He is quickly establishing himself as a rising talent in the world of jazz.

In 2002, Khaliq graduated from the Juilliard School with a Bachelor of Music and in 2010 with a Master of Arts in Jazz Performance from Queens College's Aaron Copland School of Music.

Khaliq has played with great musicians such as Wynton Marsalis,

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron,

Antonio Hart

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Hart, John Blake Jr.,

Mark O'Connor

saxophone
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark O'Connor and

Regina Carter

violin
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Regina Carter. In 2008, Khaliq was the recipient of the prestigious Meet the Composer's Edward and Sally Van Lier Fellowship Award for his work in composition. On February 8, 2011, he will release, The Basilisk, his greatly anticipated debut CD. "Progressive jazz violinist has captured the ears of New York insiders that know the wheat from the chaff, and have declared him the wheat." Chris Spector, Midwest Record.

Instrument(s):

Violin, composition.

Teachers and/or influences?

Teachers: John Blake jr.,

Eddie Allen

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Allen, Wynton Marsalis, Antonio Hart,

David Berkman

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">David Berkman and Michael Phillip Mossman.

Influences:

Stuff Smith

violin
1909 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Stuff Smith, John Blake Jr.,

Ray Nance

cornet
1913 - 1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Nance,

Eddie South

violin
1904 - 1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie South,

Jean-Luc Ponty

violin
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jean-Luc Ponty,

Kenny Garrett

saxophone, alto
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Garrett,

Kenny Kirkland

piano
1955 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Kirkland,

Kenny Dorham

trumpet
1924 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Dorham,

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis,

Steve Coleman

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Coleman and all things creative.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when... I had a chance to see Itzhak Perlman play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto live, during my time at Interlochen Arts Camp. I was a student there, the summer of the performance, and found the music Itzhak had presented to be the definitive experience for my future musical journey. At the time it was just the violin and any music that it could make. I was awestruck.

Your sound and approach to music: My sound is a mix of some very definite influences. One, classical old Russian style violin technique as originally taught by the great Leopold Aura. The second is the grooves and harmony from great American Jazz masters, past and present. McCoy Tyner is one of the strongest influences in my sound.

Your teaching approach: My philosophy can be summed up in a quote by the great violinist Erik Friedman, "when teaching I first would like to save my students from myself." Meaning one should be mindful of the problems one has and teach the students only the successes one has to offer. Also, students should know that time and timing makes the difference in music.

Your dream band:

I have already been blessed with a great group of musician on my current project, The Basilisk (to be released February 8, 2011). Eric "ELEW" Lewis for groove and emphasis.

Jeb Patton

piano
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeb Patton for refined touch and classiness.

Ivan Taylor

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivan Taylor for deep soul. Jonathan Blake for time and almost clairvoyant timing. Charles Porter for brassy beauty and chamber-like ensemble. And Andrea Vocaturo for the ambiance. I just want to think about my reality and leave the dreaming alone for now. However, I would love to do a project with Kenny Garrett because he has all of the things I love most in music.

Road story: Your best or worst experience: No real crazy stories. But, I have a wonderful story from one show I did in the summer. My band was playing in Harlem and we were grooving on a

Bobby Watson

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Watson tune named "Time Will Tell" and, midway through the song, this four year-old girl started to dance and get down with us. I was really shocked because I wasn't sure what young people thought about jazz music, especially that young. However, the music said something to that child and she couldn't control here urge to cut it up on the dance floor. Her inspiration that day is my inspiration every day. To make the music live in others to the point of uncontrollable ecstasy.

Favorite venue:

Small's Jazz Club is my current favorite club. The acoustics are good. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and it is a small but classy place. St. Nick's Pub also because the people are one of a kind there.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Kenny Garrett, Songbook. First, Kenny plays from a very honest place. Also, the band is priceless. Pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Nat Reeves, and drummer

Jeff Tain Watts

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Tain Watts.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane, My Favorite Things.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? I hope that I have a chance to show people the different ways of applying violin to the music of jazz. And, that people enjoy the grooving strings as much as they love the lyrical.

Did you know...

My great-grandfather was the Ed Smalls of the original "Small's Paradise in Harlem." And I was the character "Naheem" in Wes Craven's Academy Award-nominated feature film, Music from the Heart, starring Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep.

CDs you are listening to now:

Kenny Kirkland, Kenny Kirkland;

Kenny Garrett, Songbook and Standard of Language;

Branford Marsalis

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Branford Marsalis, Crazy People Music;

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock, The Prisoner;

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson, In and Out.

Desert Island picks:

Kenny Garrett, Songbook;

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis, Milestones;

McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy;

Joe Henderson, In and Out;

Kenny Kirkland, Kenny Kirkland.

How would you describe the state of jazz today? I view the state of jazz in a positive place. In the area of education and institutionalization of jazz, it is doing better than ever. In the area of performance, it is more difficult because the live performance of music has moved to many new places. Places like the Internet are spaces that did not exist during John Coltrane's time. Thus, making the market more spread out and harder to grasp. However, that isn't negative. It is just different.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing? The continued understanding that jazz is from "the Blues." And that jazz is an American art form that needs respect and love from its own countrymen and women to thrive.

What is in the near future? Looking to do some touring in Japan this summer and to go to Europe in the fall.

By Day:

I teach the violin in NYC public school C.S. 73 in the Bronx, through the non-profit organization Change for Kids. And teach in a Waldorf School in Garden City, Long Island.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a: I see no other way of living.

Photo Credit
Courtesy of

Majid Khaliq

violin
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Majid Khaliq

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