ARTS
The Michigan Daily
Friday, October 10, 1986
Page7
Tony
By Marc S. Taras
Well folks, Eclipse Jazz is at it
again. The student-run jazz
promotion organization is bringing
more living lessons in American
musical history to Ann Arbor, this
time in the person of drummer
Tony Williams. Williams will be
leading his exciting new quintet
through two shows of original
music tonight (7:30 and 10 p.m.) at
the Ark.
Along with Elvin Jones, Tony
Williams may be the most
influential drummer of the past 25
years. Now a youthful 41,
Williams has been the center of
attention, in the spotlight of the
nightlife since the age of nine. It
all began not so very long ago....
Anthony Willaims arrived in
Chicago on December 12, 1945.
His family moved east to Boston
when he was an infant. His father
worked in the post office and played
sax in bands on the weekends. The
younger Williams was fond of
accompanying him to his gigs. In
a phone interview last Monday,
Williams reflected upon these early
days:
"I watched the drummer all the
time....and figured if he could do it
so could I. Iasked my father if I
Williams driu
could play with the band on the
next job, and he said 'O.K.'....so
the first time I played drums was in
front of an audience."
This premiere occurred at the
tender age of nine and Williams has
honed his considerable rhythmic and
compositional skills unerringly
ever since.
In his early teens Williams
worked with Japanese pianist
Toshiko Mariano (ne Akiyoshi),
and saxophonist Sam Rivers.
Around Thanksgiving of '62, not
quite 17, Williams assented to
Jackie McLean's wish that he pack
up his drumkit and come to New
York. He worked in that sax
player's group for a while, that is
until after trumpeter Miles Davis
heard Williams with McLean, and
called him to join his band.
Williams would be the cental figure
in the second 'classic' Miles Davis
quintet. This band, which also
featured Wayne Shorter, Herbie
Hancock, and Ron Carter, would
reshape jazz in the '60s.
Williams had also begun a
fruitful association with Bluenote
Records where he worked with
luminaries like Eric Dolphy. "Eric
was completely devoid of animosity
towards anybody or anything," he
said in retrospect. He would also
renew his association with Sam
Rivers, who had joined Williams
on the drummer's first recording
dates as a leader. His gifts in
composition were evident, as was
his taste in sidemen. He began to
define a new language for the
drums.
Writers have called it 'rhythmic
dislocation' and referred to Will -
iams' efforts as 'destabilizing the
rhythm section.' Tony Williams
himself is loathe to describe his
music. "I was listening to
everybody and would notice what
people would and wouldn't do," he
said, "....then I started to do and
combine things that nobody else
did....I figured somebody's gotta do
this."
After working with Miles Davis,
Williams wanted to do something
completely different, and formed his
band Lifetime. This group was one
of the very first fusion bands; a
power-organ-trio with Larry Young
ims up
and British guitarist John
McLaughlin (pre-Mahavishnu),
which blossomed into a quartet
with the addition of former Cream
bassist Jack Bruce. "Jack was
playing the Fillmore with a group
and we went to see him," he
explained. "John was an old
friend....we talked and asked him to
join." Williams led various
incarnations of the Lifetime group
through the '70s, working with
guitarist Allan Holdsworth.
In 1986, Tony Williams' career
has come full circle. He is back
with Bluenote recording progressive
straight-edged jazz. He calls his
touring group "The best band I've
played with in 15 years." He is
brimming with enthusiasm and a
glance at his lineup will tell you
why. Trumpeter Wallace Roney
blew me away at the DIA with
Chico Freeman a couple of years
back. Saxophonist Billy Pierce has
been recording with Art Blakey.
excitement
Mulgrew Miller is one of the bright
new names on the piano, and
Charnet Moffet will help to anchor
a great rhythm section on bass.
Williams' new Bluenote LP shows
his music to be as visceral and
adventurous as ever, and with
sidemen (huh!) like these it should
come to life in vibrancy.
&#ed5.4
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UNION
== Arts & Programmingg
-, This Week at the Michigan Union. . . . .
'T'hursday, October 16
"Atsat Midday
The Brecht Company=
Residential College
:~Special Presentation
Pendleton Room 12:15 pmn
Wednesday & Thursday, October
15-16_-=
Woodshop Safety Classes for
M: New Users
_! -Room 537 SAB 3-5 pm
- This Week
Palline Plum Exhibit
"Sculpture Pools & Riverworks"-
Room 1209 10-5 pin
Retrospective Exhibit -
The University Club
For further information call 764-6498 ==
GRADUATE Your education will not end with
N URSES graduation. As a graduate nurse
at Rochester Methodist Hospital,
you will receive a comprehensive
twelve-week long orientation
where you will further develop
your professional skills. Beyond
orientation, you will have the chal-
lenges and the growth opportuni-
ties that a world-class medical
center can provide.
December grads apply now for
positions available in early 1987.
Starting salary $23,681. Attractive
benefit package.
Rochester Methodist Hospital is
an 800 bed acute care facility affil-
iated with the Mayo Medical Cen-
ter. Choose challenge. Choose
growth. Choose Rochester Meth-
'2
f '"
z I
with
special guest
Connie Kalder
& Bim z:
Leading Employers Is
Now Interviewing
On Campus.
For exceptional College Grads
(and those who are soon to be)
CURRENT
OPPORTUNITIES:
* NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
" BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
" AVIATION * LAW
" MEDICINE * INTELLIGENCE
" CIVIL ENGINEERING
" SHIPBOARD OPERATIONS
Sign up for an interview
in the Career Placement Office.
Interviews will be held
in October from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
ENGINEERING PLACEMENT:
21 and 22 OCT.
CAREER PLANNING & PLACEMENT:
22 OCT.
BUSINESS PLACEMENT:
24 OCT.
Navy Officers Get Responsibility Fast.)
Thursday, October 30, Power Center- 7:30
U
:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 7:30, Hill
The Hopwood Program
Administers The Following
Fall Term Writing Contests
The Academy of American Poets Prize
Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
DEADLINE: December 3, 1986
The Bain-Swiggett Poetry Prize
Open to undergraduates.
DEADLINE: December 3, 1986
The Michael R. Gutterman Poetry A ward
Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
DEADLINE: December 3, 1986
The Roy W. Cowden Memorial Fellowship
Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Awarded on the basis of financial need and writing talent.
DEADLINE: December 3, 1986
The Hopwood Contest for Underclassmen
j
i
Open to freshmen and sophom
I DEADLINE: December 9, 198
ores only.
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