Larry Willis

For other people named Larry Willis, see Larry Willis (disambiguation).

Lawrence Elliott "Larry" Willis (born December 20, 1940) is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion, rock, bebop and avant-garde.

Willis was born in New York City. After his first year studying music theory at the Manhattan School of Music he began performing regularly with Jackie McLean. After he graduated he made his first jazz recording, McLean's Right Now!, which featured two of Willis' compositions. His first recording of any type, however, was as a singer with the Music and Arts Chorale Ensemble, performing an opera by Aaron Copland under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He decided to concentrate on jazz because of the difficulties African American musicians had in finding work in concert music. He is still recording and touring around the world.

Throughout his career he has performed with a wide range of musicians, including a stint of seven years as keyboardist for Blood, Sweat & Tears (beginning in 1972). He spent several years as pianist for Nat Adderley, as well as Roy Hargrove. His latest recording with Paul Murphy, Exposé, demonstrated the fusion principles of bebop and avant-garde jazz. His composition "Sanctuary" began exploring works employing strings.[1] After a successful performance in Frank Lloyd Wright's Annie Pfieffer Chapel at Florida Southern College's Child of the Sun Jazz Festival he was commissioned to write a full scale orchestral work for jazz trio and orchestra. He received the Don Redman award in 2011, and the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award at Howard University in 2012.

Discography

As leader

  • A New Kind of Soul, 1970
  • Inner Crisis, 1973 (Groove Merchant)
  • My Funny Valentine, 1988
  • Just in Time (SteepleChase, 1989)
  • Solo Spirit, 1992
  • Steal Away, 1992 (Sledgehammer Blues)[2]
  • Tribute to Someone, 1993 (Sledgehammer Blues)[3]
  • Heavy Blue, 1994
  • How Do You Keep the Music Playing, 1994
  • Let's Play, 1994
  • Unforgettable, 1995
  • Serenade, 1995
  • If Trees Could Talk with Hamiet Bluiett, 1999
  • Every Rung Goes Higher, 2001
  • Sunshower with Kash Killion, Steve Novosel, Paul Murphy, Steve Berrios, 2001
  • Sanctuary with Joe Ford, Ray Codrington, Steve Novosel, Steve Berrios, Artie Sherman and the Rick Schmidt Strings, 2003
  • The Powers of Two 1+2 with Paul Murphy, 2004 and 2006
  • Alter Ego with Tony Pancella, 2006
  • The Big Push, 2006
  • Blue Fable, 2007
  • The Offering, 2008
  • This Time the Dream's on Me, 2012

As sideman

With Nat Adderley

With Blood, Sweat, and Tears

With Jimmy Heath

With Joe Henderson

With Robin Kenyatta

With Hugh Masekela

With Jackie McLean

With Carmen McRae

With Lee Morgan

With Alphonse Mouzon

With Woody Shaw

With Steve Swallow

With Buddy Terry

With Norris Turney

With C. I. Williams

As co-leader

With Heads of State

References

  1. ↑ Wynn, Ron. Larry Willis Artist Biography. AllMusic.
  2. ↑ "Steal Away". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Tribute to Someone". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
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