Hasaan ibn ali

With a third archival release, 'Reaching for the Stars,' the elusive pianist and composer Hasaan Ibn Ali comes just a bit more into focus.

For almost 60 years, the only recording on which Hasaan Ibn Ali’s piano playing could be heard was 1964’s The Max Roach Trio Featuring The Legendary Hasaan, an album for which Hasaan—one of the most enigmatic figures in all of Philadelphia jazz lore—did not receive top billing even though he wrote all the music.

For more than half a century, pianist Hasaan Ibn Ali has been the dark matter of Philadelphia jazz?—a mysterious force whose presence has been felt more…

April 19, 2021. Unless you’re a serious jazz wonk or an avid auditor of Philadelphia’s jazz history, you’re probably not that familiar with a pianist…