5 Things to Know About Rashied Ali and Coltrane's Meditations

Rashied Ali was a free jazz drummer from Philadelphia. He played with John Coltrane during the final years of Coltrane’s life.

Ali is best known for performing on Coltrane’s landmark album Meditations. This album represents a key moment in Coltrane’s late period.

Ali’s drumming style was central to the album’s intense, free-form sound. He used a loose, polyrhythmic approach that pushed beyond traditional jazz timekeeping.

Meditations was recorded in 1965, a year before Coltrane’s death. The album features a sextet including Pharoah Sanders and McCoy Tyner.

Ali’s work on Meditations helped define the direction of avant-garde jazz. His contributions remain influential among free jazz drummers today.