RIP Larry Willis December 20, 1942 - September 29, 2019
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- During a recording session for Clifton Anderson's "Decade" on Doxy Records, we caught up with one of the great and truly under appreciated pianists in Jazz, Larry Willis.
Larry was born in 1942 in Manhattan's Harlem. Surprisingly, he entered music not as a pianist but as a voice major, first at New York's High School of Music and Art for gifted students, then at the Manhattan School of Music. His senior year in high school, at 17, he had his first recording date, a classical gig with the Music and Arts Choral Ensemble singing a Copland opera conducted by no less then Leonard Bernstein.
But something even more important than that happened to Larry at the beginning of that senior year. He started playing the piano-no lessons, no teacher, just figuring it out by himself. By the end of the winter, he was playing his first professional gigs in a jazz trio with two of his classmates, Al Foster on drums and Eddie Gomez on bass. No one knew it then, but that little trio was probobly the most distinguished high school jazz group in the country.
Soon after entering the Manhattan School of Music, Larry switched from voice to music theory. For one, he was running head-on into the all-too-evident barriers facing black musicians in the classical world.
On the positive side, Larry's interest in jazz was turning into passion. A fellow student, Hugh Masakela, heard him jamming with Al Foster. Hugh was so impressed that he hooked Larry up with John Mehegan, the legendary New York jazz piano teacher. Those were Larry's first-ever lessons. By the end of that year at the Manhattan School, at age 19, Larry was playing regularly with Jackie McLean, the great alto saxophone innovator.
I know of no more remarkable entry into jazz: a kid of 17 decides to play the piano for the first time; four months later, he's playing gigs with a soon-to-be world class trio. A year and a half after that, he's making jazz history with the next giant of the alto after Bird. Talk about a natural gift!
A year after Larry's graduation in 1965, Jackie gave him his first recording date-Right Now, on Blue Note-and on that first date recorded the first two pieces in a continuing stream of Willis compositions.
Since then, Larry has played on more than 300 records. He's played or recorded with almost every great jazz musician of the modern era, stars like Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Hugh Masakela, Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Clifford Jordan, Carmen McRae, and Shirley Horn. His most recent CDs include a Larry Willis Quintet and four Larry Willis Trio recordings plus two solo sessions (labels are Audioquest, Steeplechase, Evidence and Mapleshade).
He's great! I played with him once at a jam session in amsterdam and had lunch with him, he was very supportive and gave me great tips. He's one of the most underestimated piano players in this world!
susanne alt
saxophone player
Larry Willis and I were in the chorus together at Music & Art HS. Larry is one of the few chorus members that I distinctly remember from those times 50 years ago. I graduated in 1959, one year before Larry did. The next time I saw him was when I visited the Playboy Club on E. 59th St about five years later, and found him playing piano with a combo in the jazz lounge. He was always impressive as a musician, and just a super nice guy. It is good to get a quick look at him now here on UA-cam.
Just a lovely piano player.I just told Santi Debriano a few weeks ago and Vic Lewis 20 years ago how much I liked a trio CD they did with Larry Willis I had just picked up "Let's Play" one of many,many,great CD's Willis put out.Long live his music
I was very fortunate to know Larry and he was a very encouraging and generous guy. He showed me stuff on the piano and taught me some things about life too. He had a beautiful spirit. RIP Larry.
Sooooo TIGHT.
Such a sweet, accomplished, talented, and knowledgeable man. It was a privilege to speak with him. Wow!
Loved hearing his fabulous keyboard playing in BS&T.
Got it! Single Petal Of A Rose.
I had the pleasure of hearing Larry Willis with Nat Adderley in Raleigh, NC in 1988. To this day it is the best live jazz piano performance I have ever heard.
That's the power of a performance. It happened thirty years ago yet it's still in your mind.
Thanks for these videos! They are wonderful.
Dave
I came here after watching the video of the Roy Hargrove Quintet play "Circus" at the New Morning Paris in 2000. I thought "what incredible comping chords and soloing."
I used to meet him at Mapleshade studios and take him to do an errand or play a few tunes! He's great nice cat!
God Bless you, Larry. Love you, and many, many thanks :)
I love Larry's playing and writing, particularly 'To Wisdom, The Prize', 'Ethiopia' and 'Shadows'. It was a sad week in September 2019 when he passed, and Richard Wyands soon after - another unsung master pianist.
well said
Thank you for sharing!
I miss being able to pick up the phone to call Larry and her his newest composition.
My pleasure!
Larry Willis is one of the Masters! Heard him first to know who he was on an album with Masakela. That first time I heard him in person was Jerry Gonzales & the Fort Apache Band. He was very friendly and spoke to me first cause I really didn't recognize him. Out in he lobby of the old Dakota Jazz Bar in the Twin Cities, I just assumed he was another hometown guy waiting to catch the show. lol
thank you michael... ^_^
Rest in peace musician
I still remember his performance with Jackie McClean on this Jossa Bossa
tune
Rest in Peace ❤️
awesome stuff! never heard of him, nor will i ever forget that name :)
Thank you Larry ! I’ll come tune your piano again soon.
excellent video here!!!
"You'd better start paying attention to the music that's coming out of black America"
How right Gershwin was.
Sad news. R.I.P. Master.
Beautiful person...he roomed with herbie in college
great
i met Larry Willis today!
thats my uncle!
My favorite recording of Larry Willis' magic is "Lawns", on the album by Carla Bley titled: "Sextet". Have a listen - on UA-cam by typing "Carla Bley Lawns" in the search bar above. Simply exquisite! Enjoy...
Very interesting! (I didn't know him.) Wolf175 and Wolf1750
According to Larry Willis' words in a video, this piece is devoted to Queen Elizabeth, meaning it is from The Ellington Suites ;-)
Single Petal of a Rose
dicosrm1 "Queen's Suite" for QE2..
I used to hang with Larry at Mapleshade studios. He is a nice cat! Not prone to showing off!
I took a few lessons from him there too, remember the dirt drive and the paint peeling off of the plantation mansion, climbing over Pierre's wires to get to the piano? Bittersweet.
hey... anybody knows the name of the Duke Ellingtons song?
"Single Petal of a Rose"
Who knows the name of that Duke Ellington piece, please?
"Single Petal of a Rose"