TONY WILLIAMS
Name: Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams
Born: 12 december 1945
Died: 23 February 1997
Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams (December 12, 1945 - February 23, 1997) was an
American jazz drummer.
Widely regarded as one of the most important and influential jazz drummers to
come to prominence in the '60s, Williams first gained fame in the band of
trumpeter Miles Davis, and was a pioneer of jazz fusion.
Born in Chicago and growing up in Boston, Williams began studies with drummer
Alan Dawson at an early age and began playing professionally at the age of 13
with saxophonist Sam Rivers. Saxophonist Jackie McLean hired Williams at 16.
At 17 Williams found considerable fame with Miles Davis, joining a group that
was later dubbed Davis's "Second Great Quintet." His first album as a leader,
1964's Life Time (not to be confused with the name of his band "Lifetime," which
he formed several years later) was recorded during his tenure with Davis.
Williams was a vital element of the group, called by Davis in his autobiography
"the center that the group's sound revolved around".("Miles The Autobigraphy",
Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, Picador 1989, p.254). His inventive playing
helped redefine the role of jazz rhythm section through the use of polyrhythms
and metric modulation (transitioning between mathematically related tempos and/or
time signatures). But perhaps his overarching achievement was in demonstrating,
through his playing, that the drummer need not be relegated to timekeeping and
accompaniment in a jazz ensemble, rather the drummer may be free to contribute
to the performance as an equal partner in the improvisation.
In 1969, he formed a trio, "The Tony Williams Lifetime," with John McLaughlin on
guitar, and Larry Young on organ. Jack Bruce on bass was added later. It was a
pioneering band of the fusion movement, a combination of rock, R&B, and jazz.
Their first album, Emergency!, was largely rejected by the jazz community at the
time of its release. However, Miles Davis was so impressed with the album and
its highly experimental direction that he asked to head the group as his own;
Williams declined. Nowadays, Emergency! is considered by many
to be a fusion classic.
After McLaughlin's departure, and several more albums, Lifetime disbanded. In
1975, Williams put together a band he called "The New Tony Williams Lifetime,"
featuring bassist Tony Newton, pianist Alan Pasqua, and English guitarist Allan
Holdsworth, which recorded two albums for Columbia Records, Believe It and
Million Dollar Legs respectively.
Name: Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams
Born: 12 december 1945
Died: 23 February 1997
Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams (December 12, 1945 - February 23, 1997) was an
American jazz drummer.
Widely regarded as one of the most important and influential jazz drummers to
come to prominence in the '60s, Williams first gained fame in the band of
trumpeter Miles Davis, and was a pioneer of jazz fusion.
Born in Chicago and growing up in Boston, Williams began studies with drummer
Alan Dawson at an early age and began playing professionally at the age of 13
with saxophonist Sam Rivers. Saxophonist Jackie McLean hired Williams at 16.
At 17 Williams found considerable fame with Miles Davis, joining a group that
was later dubbed Davis's "Second Great Quintet." His first album as a leader,
1964's Life Time (not to be confused with the name of his band "Lifetime," which
he formed several years later) was recorded during his tenure with Davis.
Williams was a vital element of the group, called by Davis in his autobiography
"the center that the group's sound revolved around".("Miles The Autobigraphy",
Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, Picador 1989, p.254). His inventive playing
helped redefine the role of jazz rhythm section through the use of polyrhythms
and metric modulation (transitioning between mathematically related tempos and/or
time signatures). But perhaps his overarching achievement was in demonstrating,
through his playing, that the drummer need not be relegated to timekeeping and
accompaniment in a jazz ensemble, rather the drummer may be free to contribute
to the performance as an equal partner in the improvisation.
In 1969, he formed a trio, "The Tony Williams Lifetime," with John McLaughlin on
guitar, and Larry Young on organ. Jack Bruce on bass was added later. It was a
pioneering band of the fusion movement, a combination of rock, R&B, and jazz.
Their first album, Emergency!, was largely rejected by the jazz community at the
time of its release. However, Miles Davis was so impressed with the album and
its highly experimental direction that he asked to head the group as his own;
Williams declined. Nowadays, Emergency! is considered by many
to be a fusion classic.
After McLaughlin's departure, and several more albums, Lifetime disbanded. In
1975, Williams put together a band he called "The New Tony Williams Lifetime,"
featuring bassist Tony Newton, pianist Alan Pasqua, and English guitarist Allan
Holdsworth, which recorded two albums for Columbia Records, Believe It and
Million Dollar Legs respectively.