Photos: “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”

Wadada Leo Smith (right) and Vijay Iyer at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Tomeka Reid at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Wadada Leo Smith at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Rufus Reid (left) and Andrew Cyrille at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Roscoe Mitchell (left) and George E. Lewis at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Roscoe Mitchell at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Randy Weston at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Jack DeJohnette, Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell (from left) at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Jack DeJohnettte at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Henry Threadgill (left) and George E. Lewis at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

George E. Lewis at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Anthony Braxton soundchecks at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

Amina Claudine Myers at “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams”; the Community Church of New York – Jan. 29, 2018 (Credit: Alan Nahigian)

On Monday, Jan. 29, the AACM’s New York City Chapter presented “A Musical Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams” at the Community Church of New York. Abrams, the profoundly influential pianist-composer and AACM co-founder who died on Oct. 29, was eulogized via words and/or music by his friends, family, colleagues and admirers, among them Jack DeJohnette, Randy Weston, Henry Threadgill, Roscoe Mitchell, Tomeka Reid, Oliver Lake, Adegoke Steve Colson, Amina Claudine Myers, Wadada Leo Smith, Vijay Iyer and George E. Lewis. (Anthony Braxton was present but unable to perform due to time constraints.)

JT photographer Alan Nahigian was there to document this heartfelt tribute.

Read more about the life and work of Muhal Richard Abrams.