Malachi Favors


Malachi Favors was an American jazz bassist who played with the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

Biography

"Favors's tendency to dissemble about his age was a well-known source of mirth to fellow musicians of his generation". Most reference works give his year of birth of 1937, but, following his death, his daughter stated that it was 1927.
Favors primarily played the double bass, but also played the electric bass guitar, banjo, zither, gong, and other instruments. He began playing double bass at the age of 15 and began performing professionally upon graduating from high school. Early performances included work with Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard. By 1965, he was a founder of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and a member of Muhal Richard Abrams' Experimental Band.
At some point he added the word "Maghostut" to his name and because of this he is commonly listed as "Malachi Favors Maghostut". Musically he is most associated with bebop, hard bop, and particularly free jazz.
Favors was a protégé of Chicago bassist Wilbur Ware. His first known recording was a 1953 session with tenor saxophonist Paul Bascomb. He made an LP with Chicago pianist Andrew Hill. Favors began working with Roscoe Mitchell in 1966; this group eventually became the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Favors also worked outside the group, with artists including Sunny Murray, Archie Shepp, and Dewey Redman.
Prominent records include Natural & Spiritual and Sightsong. In 1994 he played with Roman Bunka at Berlin Jazz Fest and recorded the 'German Critics Poll Winner' album, Color Me Cairo.
Favors died from pancreatic cancer in January 2004, at the age of 76.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

Natural & Spiritual 2 x 4 with Tatsu Aoki

As sideman

With Ahmed AbdullahLiquid Magic
With Fred AndersonBlack Horn Long Gone
With Charles BrackeenBannar
With Bright Moments: Joseph Jarman, Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Kahil El'Zabar and Adegoke Steve ColsonReturn of the Lost Tribe
With Roman BunkaColor Me Cairo
With Kahil El'ZabarSacred Love Another Kind of Groove The Ancestors Are Amongst Us Alika Rising at Leverkusener Jazztage Renaissance of the Resistance Big Cliff Jitterbug Junction Conversations with Archie SheppAfrica N'Da Blues featuring Pharoah Sanders
With Dennis GonzálezStefan Namesake
With Andrew HillSo in Love
With Maurice McIntyre
With Roscoe MitchellBefore There Was Sound Nonaah The Flow of Things Hey Donald The Day and the Night
With Sunny MurraySunshine Homage to Africa An Even Break (Never Give a Sucker) Live at Moers Festival
With Dewey RedmanTarik
With Archie SheppBlasé
With Alan Silva
With Wadada Leo SmithReflectativity Golden Quartet