Home » Jazz Articles » William Menefield

Jazz Articles about William Menefield

About William Menefield

Album Review

Damani Phillips: No More Apologies

Read "No More Apologies" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
July 22, 2022

One of the often encountered effects of the pandemic has been to reduce artistic motivations to their most fundamental core. The hunger to make art simply for its own sake, without the encumbrances of marketplace considerations or stylistic categories, has emerged more fully than ever before. We have seen this in the jazz world, with plenty of musicians experimenting with radically innovative approaches to composing, recording and distributing their music. There is often a noticeable defiance accompanying this creativity and ...

128

Album Review

William Menefield: Big Will Leaps In

by Jack Bowers
September 1, 1999

Remember the name William Menefield. On second thought, don’t bother; you’ll probably be hearing it often enough in the years ahead. Menefield’s debut album, Big Will Leaps In, has “blossoming superstar” written all over it. As a pianist Menefield unearths a range of maturity, depth and insight that would be remarkable at any age, and is especially eye–opening when embodied in a 19–year–old wunderkind who’s only a year removed from high school. One can’t help but wonder how he was ...

153

Album Review

William Menefield: Big Will Leaps In

by Jim Santella
August 1, 1999

Acoustic piano trios are the backbone of mainstream jazz, allowing for a proper balance of both expository and extemporaneous material. The three artists have distinct roles that require cohesion and “big ears." Cincinnati veteran Art Gore and bassist Tyrone Wheeler make fine partners for the teenaged William Menefield. Born to a musical family, the talented pianist seems a natural for small ensemble leadership. Menefield wrote four pieces for this debut album, exhibiting a grasp of the essentials and revealing an ...