At Barbes and Ten Tracks For Tony

For those of you in NYC, I’m playing at Barbés in Brooklyn tonight with bassist Vicente Archer and pianist Ethan Iverson. We’ll be playing music from my album Saturday, which came out on Fresh Sound Records earlier this year. Tickets are available here.

Every place that presents music is special, but I go way back with Barbès. I’ve learned a lot in that small room, so it always means something to play there.

If you’re visiting Brooklyn, go to Barbès, any night of the week— you’ll hear something you won’t hear anywhere else. Thank you Olivier Conan for keeping Barbès going!

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Happy Birthday Tony Williams! Today, December 12, Tony would have turned 78.

The past 18 months have seen the reissue of Williams’ Play or Die, and the clear-out-of-the-blue-sky appearance of two videos by the McLaughlin/Young/Bruce Lifetime on Beat Club, giving us a few new pieces of the puzzle to ponder. There’s always more to think about with Tony Williams, a deeper understanding of his contribution just within reach.

Williams died in 1997 at age 52, the victim of medical negligence. Thankfully, in that comparatively short time, he was extensively documented. He recorded so widely and variously that there’s always something to re-consider, something you haven’t heard in awhile that sounds different now.

Here’s a few lesser-heard Tony tracks, for his birthday:

• Jackie McLean: “Dusty Foot” (Donald Byrd), from Vertigo (Blue Note, recorded February 11, 1963). Startling to hear 17 year-old Tony’s maturity, musicianship, and special connection to Herbie Hancock. The 6/4 boogaloo still sounds advanced.

• Charles Lloyd: “Of Course, Of Course” (Charles Lloyd), from Of Course, Of Course (Columbia, 1965). A memorable one-off session with Lloyd, Ron Carter, Tony, and Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo. This is Tony’s first recording with a guitarist, shades of a future Lifetime.

• The Great Jazz Trio: “Favors” (Claus Ogerman), from At The Village Vanguard (East Wind, recorded 1977). In the midst of his career as a fusion bandleader, Tony formed the Great Jazz Trio with Hank Jones and Ron Carter. Three sets from the Village Vanguard were released by East Wind, letting us savor Tony’s then-new drum sound in a state-of-the-art acoustic setting. Tony focusses on that ride cymbal; this track is seriously swinging…

• Sonny Rollins: “Silver City” (Rollins) from Don’t Stop The Carnival (Milestone, recorded 1978). Tony’s opening duet with Sonny is so relaxed and open, Williams supporting every phrase of Sonny— notice that feathered bass drum. Special props and shoutout to bassist Jerome Harris for hooking up Tony and Sonny Rollins!

• Public Image Ltd: “Rise” (Lydon/Laswell) from Album (Virgin, recorded 1985). That nasty laidback feel and fierce intensity. The snare is so consistent (and seems to have some post-production on it) that it almost sounds programmed, but at that mini-fill at 2:29, we know who’s playing. This is the only hit single Tony played on, love the Steve Vai solo too.

• Dianne Reeves: “Yesterdays” (Jerome Kern) from Dianne Reeves (Blue Note, 1987). Some slightly dated production doesn’t stand in the way of Tony’s heavy 4/4 swing. There aren’t many examples of Tony hooking it up for a singer on a standard, and more’s the pity, as he was an expert. Plenty to enjoy from Ms. Reeves, Billy Childs, Freddie Hubbard, and Stanley Clarke as well.

• Don Pullen: “Jana’s Delight” (Pullen) from New Beginnings (Blue Note, recorded 1988). Tony and Gary Peacock play cool and tasty while Pullen finds the connection between modern straight-ahead and Cecil Taylor. I am a huge fan of this album.

• Geri Allen: “Drummer’s Song” (Geri Allen) from Twenty One (Blue Note, 1994). Allen’s stature just grows, and she put Tony’s openness, musicianship, and irrepressible spirit front and center here. Williams and Ron Carter fit right in to Geri’s world, and she into theirs.

• Arcana: The Last Wave (DIW, recorded 1995). The first album under the Arcana rubric was an improvising trio of guitarist Derek Bailey, bassist/producer Bill Laswell, and Tony. Williams and Bailey find a natural connection, while Laswell keeps the energy up. Bold of Tony to commit to a free session with Derek Bailey as he entered his fifties, but then, he was nothing if not bold.