Jazz Articles about Buster Williams

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Buster Williams: Griot Libert

by Brandt Reiter
August 15, 2005

All great jazz essentially tells the same story: “This is what it's like to be alive, right here, right now. First-call bass vet Buster Williams' latest disc, Griot Libertè, while no exception, tells an additional one: he loves his wife. Using her recovery from a serious illness as a jumping off point, Williams leads a crack quartet with vibraphonist Stefon Harris, pianist George Colligan, and drummer Lenny White through a post bop program of six excellent self-penned originals and two ...

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Buster Williams: Griot Libert

by John Kelman
July 20, 2004

The instrumental lineup may mimic the Modern Jazz Quartet and, to be sure, Buster Williams' choice of vibes as the other front-line instrument was so that he could similarly “express a certain softness in [the] music." But that's where the comparison ends. Griot Libertè may also swing on the light side like MJQ, but the musical choices are far more weighty.

Opening with the modal workout “Nomads," Williams is quick to establish his dark and meaty tone, placed high in ...

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Chip White: Harlem Sunset

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1999

Harlem Sunset is the impressive debut recording from powerhouse drummer Chip White originally released in 1994 on the Postcards label which is now brought to us by way of Arkadia Records. Here, White shines as a composer, offering a series of compositions that convey an at times, hard-edged tenderness featuring killer support from an estimable bunch comprising saxophonist Gary Bartz, trombonist Robin Eubanks, vibraphonist Steve Nelson bassist Buster Williams and trumpeter Claudio Roditi. The proceedings get off to a furious ...

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Buster Williams: Pinnacle

by Douglas Payne
December 1, 1999

One of the great losses to jazz is that Herbie Hancock's 1970-73 Mwandishi band could not have been as profitable as it was protean, progressive and ever too-briefly productive. Launched from the spaces that fostered Bitches Brew, Hancock introduced elements of both the avant-garde and soul jazz to create a groove that was as unusual and provocative in sound as it was striking in its musical excellence.Hancock's young sextet was utterly prepared to traverse and unite such opposing ...

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70's Jazz Pioneers: Live! at The Town Hall New York City

by Glenn Astarita
May 1, 1999

The “Young Lions” of the 1970’s? Now we refer to them as the “70’s Jazz Pioneers”. Perhaps in the year 2010 some will refer to Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart and Joshua Redman, as the (mainstream) “80’s Jazz Pioneers”? Although, this writer would hardly cite Redman or Hargrove as true pioneers but this is good fodder for ongoing debates et al.

Here, those 70’s’ Pioneers reunite at New York City’s famous “Town Hall” to perform well known compositions by ...

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Endless Miles: A Tribute to Miles Davis

by Jack Bowers
October 1, 1998

A well--formed program of contemporary Jazz (for the most part anyway), presented for a good cause as well. A part of the net proceeds from Endlessmiles, recorded by a number of all--star groups at New York City's Birdland on May 26, 1998--the 72nd anniversary of the late trumpeter's birth--will be used to help establish an endowment for young musicians, the MilesDavis.com scholarship, to be administered by the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE). Two of the eight songs ...

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Buster Williams: Crystal Reflections

by Douglas Payne
September 1, 1998

Bassist Buster Williams is well featured here on this pretty, interesting set from 1976, his second disc as a leader. Crystal Reflections concentrates on exploratory duets with keyboardist Kenny Barron (the exceptional Barron original, “The Enchanted Flower"), pianist Jimmy Rowles (two versions of “I Dream Too Much") and vibraphonist Roy Ayers ("My Funny Valentine").Elsewhere, Williams combines with Barron, Ayers and drummer Billy Hart for three impressionistic pieces: William's sensitive “Prism," Cole Porter's “I Love You" and Roy Ayers's ...