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 I " apparel " jewelry - accessories - - - 325 e. liberty - ann arbor, michigan - 995.4222 r One Of The Nation 'S WDET Welcomes to the Power Center October Blues Fest! JOHN LEE JOHN ELVIN HOOKER HAMMOND BISHOP and PINETOP PERKINS Thursday, October 16, 7:30 p.m. 1I 24 HR. TOLL FREE ORDERING: 1-800-231-6005 Genuie SwdishArmy Genuine British Army Gen Si my 100% COTTON 100% COTTON SOFT T-SHIRT WRAP SKIRT T-SHIRT 16.0 10.00 ea. 2 for 17.50 NEW. Gray with off center button front. Bace NEW. Wide scoop neck pleat. Longer length. in off-white. Longer 26" to 32" waists. length. Uni-sex. Genuine U. S. Army Genuine BriisArmy 100% SANFORIZED COTTON 100% COTTON KHAKI PANTS BATTLE JACKET 22.50. 1.00 2 pr. for 40.00 NEW. 5 pockets including NEW. Olive denim with watch pocket. Sart /rs"a uEe. tailoring. Zipper fly. Agetsrn ok Uni-sex. 26" to 42" waists. Uni-sex. 36" to 40" chests. COL. BUBBlES E STRAND SURLS S Ni 2202 STRAND, DEPT. N, GALVESTON, TX. 77550 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. 6 I