Fandeen Publishing Company Publishes Jazz Master Alaadeen's Memoirs

Oct. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Fandeen Publishing Company, Inc. Publishes Jazz Master Alaadeen's Memoirs  

KANSAS CITY, MO  - Jazz saxophonist, composer, educator Ahmad Alaadeen's memoirs titled, Dysfunctional | life journeys of a second generation jazz musician is now available in both paperback and eBook format.

In May 2010 at the age of 75, Alaadeen was diagnosed with cancer. During this struggle, he stated he wanted to write his life story, and it should be called Dysfunctional. He wanted others to read his story and to learn from his poor choices and mistakes. Throughout his illness, he spent hours talking and recording his experiences in life. Although he passed before he could finish the book, Victoria Dunfee was able to complete this project by transcribing his recently taped conversations and 25 years of interviews collected. The text in this book is in Alaadeen's exact words, not altered or censored, and can be substantiated with tapes, videos and CDs. Dunfee merely edited the material and put it in story format.

Najee, Grammy nominated saxophonist and flautist remarks, "Dysfunctional is a reading that anyone regardless of race, nationality, or life background can learn from. It is at times raw but educational. It is Alaadeen; insightful, organic, spiritual, and educational." Journalist Willard Jenkins writes, "His story is full of cautionary tales and triumphs over adversities, of music made and music lost, of unstinting life lessons and subsequent sage observations, and ultimately of contributing to the music which gave him so much sustenance."  

Born in Kansas City in 1934, Alaadeen grew up around music. He studied at R.T. Coles High School under the tutelage of Leo H. Davis, a well respected music instructor reported to have taught Charlie Parker. Later he picked up a lot of experience living and playing in such cities as New York, Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Antonio and St. Louis. He had opportunities to work in a countless number of settings including stints with Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Jay McShann, The Glen Miller ghost band under the direction of Tex Beneke, Della Reese, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, T-Bone Walker, Claude “Fiddler” Williams and with R&B stars, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Four Tops and Sam Cooke.

His skills as a teacher were recognized when he was inducted into the R.T. Coles/Lincoln High School “Outstanding Alumni Hall Of Fame." He won songwriting competitions sponsored by Billboard for his original tunes and recorded with Jay McShann, Crown Prince Waterford, the City Light Orchestra and countless others. He led the Deans of Swing in the 1990s, and the ensemble was picked in 1996 as Musician Magazine’s Best Unsigned Band. To document his music, Alaadeen started the ‘ASR label. He authored The Rest of the Story: Jazz Improvization and History, a method manual in which he shares the secrets of how he learned the music as handed down to him by the masters.

Alaadeen was recognized with numerous awards including Kansas City's Jazz Heritage Award, the Missouri Humanities Council's Community Heritage Award, the Missouri Arts Award and Kansas City’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He was recognized  in the United States House of Representatives and was issued a Proclamation from the Office of the Governor, State of Missouri. The American Jazz Museum honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.  

Alaadeen's CDs and books including Dysfunctional | life journeys of a second generation jazz musician can be purchased online at http://www.Alaadeen.com.
Coupon code CJ39C can be used at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/84209 to download Dysfunctional | life journeys of a second generation jazz musician in formats for Kindle, Nook, Sony, Palm at a promotional price of $3.99.

For more information contact:
Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc.
#913.831.4396
6720 Marty, Overland Park, Kansas
USA  66204

Interview Contact: Victoria Fanny Dunfee
fanny@everestkc.net
#913.831.4396

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Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc. was established in 1998 as a 501c3 with the specific purpose to develop an understanding and appreciation of the Jazz tradition with particular emphasis on Midwestern and Kansas City style Jazz, with a major focus on education.