Safeer Mahdi has a universal, cross-cultural vision of world music that is rooted in Senegal, Africa, Antigua, West Indies, and the Dominican Republic. His family’s musical influence came from his father who played bass with jazz great Thelonius Monk. His formative musical years began at the age of eight as a member of the drum and bugle corps in Long Island, New York. During his childhood years, Safeer was exposed to calypso, steel drums and other Caribbean and African-based musical forms and sounds. He and his father enjoyed frequent unrehearsed jam sessions at home which expanded Safeer’s innate ability to improvise and play in the spirit of the moment. Safeer also had many impromptu jam sessions with his younger brother, an accomplished guitar player who performed with his own jazz group.
Professionally, as a flute player/percussionist, Safeer worked extensively in California with poet/performing artist, Sarah Webster Fabio and her band “Don’t Fight The Feeling.” In 1976, he recorded two albums with this group, “Soul Ain’t, Soul Is” and “Ju Jus Alchemy of the Blues,” both on Folkways Records. In 1993 Safeer formed the musical healing group called Spirit Dance with master percussionist Danii Odudua.
Throughout his busy musical career, Safeer has played with many noteworthy musicians, which include members of Yusef Lateef’s jazz group as well as legendary jazz drummer Charles Moffett and his well known son, Charnett Moffett, bassist extraordinaire. Other noteworthy musicians that Safeer has played with include: Steven Halpern (New Age Music pioneer), Jo Jo Morocco (master drummer from Morocco), Cedric Brooks and Journey to Africa, Greek/new age guitarist Chris Spheeris, Azumah (South African World Music & Dance Ensemble), Anthony Mazzello (New Age Guitarist), Mystical Travelers World Music & Dance Ensemble, Michael Bianco (Guitarist), Jomo Faulks (Mbira/Kalimba master), and Harare (South African Drum/Marimba Group).
According to a recent article in the Arizona Republic, “Safeer’s world tribal music CD, Mystical Travels, is performed by his musical healing group called Spirit Dance, which has no memorized songs or sheet music. His group relies on spirit to move them as well as the people who are there to dance to their melodies. Safeer is not someone who plays at nightclubs hoping to be discovered. Mahdi is a musical healer who plays to reduce stress, heal the soul, and to help others discover the power of the spirit.”
According to Safeer, “the Spirit Dance musical healing and dance meditation program expands self awareness, reduces stress, and brings about a state of ‘homeostasis’ (balance of mind, body and spirit). When participants use the option of dancing blindfolded, this sensory musical experience enables a person to have uninhibited movement to the multi-cultural rhythms of percussion and flute.”
Safeer is a Shaman and has studied and practiced extensively with other Shaman representing African, Middle Eastern, and Native American traditions. These practices have included fire walks, sweat lodges, native weddings, and numerous spiritual ceremonies to invoke spiritual as well as physical healing and transformation.
In addition, he is a talk show host/executive producer of The Stress Test and Homeostasis Radio Shows. These two-way talk radio shows focus on stress management, conflict resolution, and human behavioral tips for getting along with other people. All of these combined experiences have more than qualified Safeer to be a Musical Healer, Life Coach, Shaman, and Human Relations Consultant for businesses and individuals who want to achieve optimal wellness and/or improve their coping skills in today’s complex world.
