Tag Archives: Tony Williams

Listening Room – “Life Time”

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Tony Williams – “Two Pieces Of One: Red”

Tony Williams – “Two Pieces Of One: Green”

Tony Williams – “Memory”

From “Life Time” : 1964 : Blue Note BLP 4180

Tony Williams debut album as a leader (he was still going by Anthony Williams when it was issued) is a great example of some classic Blue Note post bop.  The lineup features a strong group of label regulars at the time, including the under appreciated Sam Rivers on tenor saxophone.  The tracks Two Pieces of One: Red and Two Pieces of One: Green took up all of side one of the original LP and feature all the players except Hutcherson.  Williams wrote all of the compositions on the album and the open feel to much of the music shows that even as a young eighteen year old he had many of the chops in place that would make him one of the all time great jazz drummers.

Players:
Sam Rivers – Tenor Sax
Gary Peacock – Bass
Richard Davis – Bass
Ron Carter – Bass
Bobby Hutcherson – Vibes
Herbie Hancock – Piano
Tony Williams – Drums & Percussion

“Cantaloupe Island – 1985″

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This is a performance of “Cantaloupe Island” from the “One Night with Blue Note” film celebrating the historic concert in 1985 that brought together Blue Note Records legends to celebrate the revival of the label by Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cuscuna.  This performance certainly features legendary players:  Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter and Tony Williams!

Listening Room – “Out To Lunch!”

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Out To Lunch!

Eric Dolphy – Hat and Beard

Eric Dolphy – Out To Lunch

From “Out to Lunch” : 1964 : Blue Note BLP 4163

Everything about Eric Dolphy’s 1964 avant-garde post-bop classic “Out To Lunch!” – from the music to the cover to the lineup – announces a masterpiece of an album, and rightly so.  Dolphy’s five originals (two highlights are the Thelonious Monk tribute Hat and Beard and the title track) are rhythmically complex and create a freedom within the music that allows all the players room to improvise at a high level.  These songs are almost more soundscapes than traditional compositions, and while some may disagree I would argue that Dolphy has never sounded more creative and inspired.

Players:
Eric Dolphy – Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Bobby Hutcherson – Vibes
Richard Davis – Bass
Tony Williams – Drums

Listening Room – “Point of Departure”

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Andrew Hill – “New Monastery”

Andrew Hill – “Dedication”

From “Point of Departure” : 1964 : Blue Note Records

Andrew Hill put together just the right group of capable forward thinking musicians for this 1964 Blue Note album. Point of Departure looks both to the past and the future, blurring the lines in between to create an album that sounds just as fresh today as it did 40 years ago.

Players:
Andrew Hill – Piano
Kenny Dorham – Trumpet
Eric Dolphy – Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Joe Henderson – Tenor Sax
RIchard Davis – Bass
Tony Williams – Drums