Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tony Williams










Artist:  Tony Williams
Origin:   Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Birth Name:  Anthony Tillmon Williams
Born:  December 12, 1945.  Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Died:   February 23, 1997 (Aged 51).
Genre:   Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Post-Bop, Hard Bop.
Occupations:  Drummer, Composer, Producer.
Instruments:  Drums

Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams was an American Jazz Drummer, he was born in Chicago and grew up in Boston, he was of African, Portuguese, and Chinese descent, he took lessons with drummer Alan Dawson at age of 11, and at 13 with saxophonist Sam Rivers, at 15 was appearing at Boston-area Jam Sessions, at 16 with Saxophonist Jackie McLean and at 17 with trumpeter Miles Davis, and was a pioneer of Jazz Fusion.

He was playing on such classics as Jackie McLean's "One Step Beyond", Sam River's "Fuchsia Swing Song", Andrew Hill's "Point of Departure", and Eric Dolphy's "Out To Lunch"


























His first album as a leader, 1964's Life Time, and many of his albums are considered amongst the Greatest Jazz Recordings of All Time.

He formed a Trio Band in 1969, The Tony Williams Lifetime, with John McLaughlin (Guitar), Larry Young (Organ) and Jack Bruce (Bass) joined later, was a pioneering band of the Fusion movement a combination of Rock, R&B and Jazz.  In 1975 his new band called The New Tony Williams Lifetime, featuring Tony Newton (Bass), Alan Pasqua (Piano) and Allan Holdsworth (Guitar), which recorded two albums "Believe It" and "Million Dollar Legs" on Columbia Records.  In 1976, he was a part of a reunion with Miles Davis Band, with Herbie Hancock (Piano, Keyboards), Ron Carter (Bass), Wayne Shorter (Tenor Saxophonist).  In 1979 with John McLaughlin (Guitar) and Jaco Pastorious (Bass) at Havana Jazz Festival, band called Trio Of Doom.  In 1980-1982 with the group Fuse One, released two albums,  In 1985 he recorded an album for Blue Note Records "Foreign Intrigue",  he played with Freddie Hubbard "Birdlike"

Tony Williams's death in February 23, 1997 of a heart attack at age 51.














Title:  Life Time  (1964)
Genre:   Free Jazz
Label:   Blue Note
Rating:  *****

Tracks:  

 1.  Two Pieces Of One:  Red   (8:06)
 2.  Two Pieces Of One:  Green  (10:40)
 3.  Tomorrow Afternoon   (5:35)
 4.  Memory  (8:06)
 5.  Barb's Song To The Wizard  (5:58)

Personne:

Tony Williams:  Drums, Maracas, Triangle, Tympani, Woodblock
Sam Rivers:  Tenor Saxophone
Bobby Hutcherson:  Vibes, Marimba
Herbie Hancock:  Piano
Ron Carter:  Bass
Gary Peacock:  Bass
Richard Davis:  Bass

Life Time is the debut album by American Drummer Tony Williams, released in 1964 on Blue Note Records.  One of the Classic Blue Note Albums.














Title:  Believe It   (1975)
Genre:  Jazz Fusion
Label:   Columbia
Rating:   *****

Tracks:  

 1.  Snake Oil  (6:26)
 2.  Fred   (6:44)
 3.  Proto-Cosmos  (4:00)
 4.  Red Alert  (4:36)
 5.  Wildlife  (5:19)
 6.  Mr. Spock  (6:13)
 7.  Celebration   (4:00)  (Bonus Track)
 8.  Letsby  (6:35)  (Bonus Track)


Personnel:

Tony Williams:  Drums
Allan Holdsworth:  Guitar
Alan Pasqua:  Keyboards
Tony Newton:  (Bass)


Believe It is the first album by The New Tony Williams Lifetime, released in 1975 on Columbia Records, was a Jazz Fusion band formed by Tony Williams (Drums), Allan Holdsworth (Guitar), Alan Pasqua (Keyboards) and Tony Newton (Bass).

This album considered one of The Greatest Jazz Rock Albums and one of the 10 Best Jazz Fusion Albums Ever!.

Comments:   Highly Recommended














Title:  Trio Of Doom  (2007)
Genre:  Jazz Fusion
Label:  Columbia
Rating:   ****

Tracks:  

 1.  Drum Improvisation   (2:46)
 2.  Dark Prince  (6:36)
 3.  Continuum  (5:11)
 4.  Para Oriente  (5:42)
 5.  Are You The One?  Are You The One?  (4:51)
 6.  Dark Prince  (4:11)
 7.  Continuum  (3:49)
 8.  Para Oriente (Alternate Take One)  (1:05)
 9.  Para Oriente (Alternate Take Two)  (0:20)
10. Para Oriente  (5:28)

Personnel:

Tony Williams:  Drums
John McLaughlin:  Guitar
Jaco Pastorius:  Bass

Trio Of Doom was a short-lived of the Jazz Fusion Power Trio by Tony Williams (Drums), John McLaughlin (Guitar) and Jaco Pastorius (Bass), recorded at Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba alongside with Billy Joel, Kris Kristofferson Rita Coolidge and others in 1979, and released in June 26, 2007,  on Columbia Records.












































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