Saalik A. Ziyad
Saalik A. Ziyad ‘Z’ was not only a dynamic performer on keyboards, voice, and electronics. He was an adventurous and inventive composer, and also a unifying and supportive force in Chicago's music landscape. Exemplifying the spirit of a past generation when musicians crossed porous boundaries among different genres, traditions and idioms, Saalik made consistent, significant contributions to modern jazz, creative improvised, and sacred music. Saalik began singing at the age of seven. His unique style of song creates deep, melodic vocals that many who have witnessed his craft, soon not forget. ‘Z’ introduction to music was when he was accepted as a member of the Chicago Children’s Choir. This experience opened the door to opportunities to perform with many musical greats including Charlie Haden, Amina Claudine Myers, Willie Pickens, and renowned institutions such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musician (AACM), ‘Z’ has been able to explore the different areas of creative music by composing and performing with the organization. He is a former student of the AACM and taught in the AACM School of Music since he was 18. At the age of 40, Saalik had already established himself as a consummate professional musician, brilliant composer, band leader, and arts leader in Chicago. His musical groups “the 5 After 7 Project”, and the “Z Quartet” influences touched Poznan, Poland (Made In Chicago Festival), Europe and the Mediterranean.
