Tony Williams
Drums

Tony Williams

(1945–1997)

United States

Tony Williams (1945–1997) — Drums. Led Life Time, Spring. Worked with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter.

Miles Davis drafted him at 17. His explosive energy and speed created moments where the drums became the lead voice rather than the accompaniment. Already fully formed at an age when most musicians are still students, he had the power to pull the entire band forward. One of jazz's greatest drummers, no qualifier needed.

Tony Williams's albums

Keystone 3
Keystone 3
Art Blakey · 1982
Wingspan
Wingspan
Mulgrew Miller · 1987

Mulgrew MillerMulgrew MillerMulgrew Millerマルグリュー・ミラー came up in Woody ShawWoody ShawWoody Shawウディ・ショウ's band, then moved to Art BlakeyArt BlakeyArt Blakeyアート・ブレイキー's Jazz Messengers (1983–86), then to Tony WilliamsTony WilliamsTony Williamsトニー・ウィリアムス's acoustic quintet. He carried the hard bop tradition with elegance while consistently seeking out younger musicians. He anchored many of Kenny GarrettKenny GarrettKenny Garrettケニー・ギャレット's most important recordings.

Blue Note Records: The Biography, Richard Cook, 2001

Tony Williams's albums

Tony Williams's albums

Nefertiti
Nefertiti
Miles Davis · 1968

On the title track of NefertitiNefertitiNefertitiMiles Davis · 1968 (1967), the Miles DavisMiles DavisMiles Davisマイルス・デイヴィス/Wayne ShorterWayne ShorterWayne Shorterウェイン・ショーター front line repeats a single melody while the rhythm section improvises around them — an inverted approach that was avant-garde for its time.

Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter, Michelle Mercer, 2004

Tony Williams's albums