448 - Ra Kalam Bob Moses: Getting Beyond Your Tendencies and Patterns, His Documentary, Reconciling His Own Legacy

Working Drummer

Ra Kalam Bob Moses spent his youth growing up in New York City and living in the same building as Art Blakey, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Elvin Jones, Rahsaan Roland Kirk. This early experience had a profound effect on this young musician. Ra Kalam would go on to work with jazz luminaries such as Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Jack DeJohnette, Tisziji Muñoz and many others.

He was also a member of the group The Free Spirits in the 1960’s, considered one of the first Jazz rock bands ever.

Many were introduced to Ra Kalam’s drumming by way of Pat Metheny‘s very first solo record Bright Size Life in 1976 with Jaco Pastorius on bass.

Ra Kalam is also a composer and leader on many recorded projects, going back decades.

In this episode, Ra Kalam talks about:

• His thoughts on the documentary being made about him
• Growing up in the same building as Art Blakey, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Elvin Jones, Rahsaan Roland Kirk in New York
• Getting beyond your tendencies and patterns
• His relationship with teacher and musical collaborator, Tisziji Muñoz
• The origin of his name “Ra Kalam”
• Reconciling his own legacy
• Upcoming recordings