Clyde positively affected so many lives and careers. This is really the first opportunity for some of those accomplished artists and classmates to celebrate his originality, and share their appreciation.
—Avery Sharpe, bassist, composer, educator
An “All-Star" group of legendary musicians will join with other artists in a festive
“Tribute to Clyde Criner," an Albany native and noted music performer, composer, and educator, who passed at 39 in 1991. The performance will be on Saturday, June 14, from 1:00-2:30pm at the '62 Center for Theater and Dance in Williamstown MA, as part of the program for the 50th Reunion of Criner's Class of 1975. It is free and open to all.Leading the All-Stars quartet on bass will be Avery Sharpe, a long-time friend and band mate of Criner's who himself has taught at Williams. For more than 20 years, Avery was the bassist in McCoy Tyner's group, appearing on more than 20 of Tyner's albums, as well as his own, including “Unspoken Words" with Criner.
Joining him on drums is Pittsfield native Royal Hartigan, drummer, composer, educator, and social activist who also studied and played with Criner and Sharpe, and whose life's focus has been on the sounds and meaning of the music of the world's peoples.
Performer, recording artist, composer, author, and Berklee College of Music Professor Joe Mulholland '74, will command the piano. Rounding out the group on saxophone is Kris Allen, the Williams College Lyell B. Clay Artist in Residence, Director of the Jazz Ensemble, who composes and performs widely.
Raised in Albany and a graduate of Albany Academy, Criner matriculated at Williams College while continuing to perform on a variety of standard and electronic keyboard instruments, mainly under the tutelage of Albany legend Hal Miller, who will speak at the Tribute. Clyde's father worked in local government and his mother, Charlotte, was a long-time and venerated guidance counselor at Albany High School. One of her students, Stefon Harris, the acclaimed vibraphonist, will also contribute recollections at the Tribute. Mrs. Criner introduced Stefon to her son Clyde, who saw his promise and mentored Harris.
Also featured at the Tribute are bassist Santi Debriano, a native of Panama and Union College graduate whose development Criner furthered, and Vin McLoughlin '76 of Troy, retired executive, who attended Albany Academy and Williams with Criner.
In addition to Criner's composition “Can't Buy A Cadillac with No Chevy Money,” the All-Stars will perform “Remembering Clyde," a Sharpe original, “Ahmmage to Clyde," an original work by Williams classmate Joe Gold '75 of Great Barrington, and “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free,” a close-out work by Billy Taylor. The prize-winning poet Lezli White '75 will kick off the program with a reading of a new work recalling her discovery of Criner and his trailblazing music. Guitarist Reggie Garrett '75 and cellist Christine Gunn of Olympia, WA will play a special piece they crafted in memory of Criner.
The Tribute is the latest in a series of steps commenced five years ago by Criner’s roommates to further awareness of his contributions and legacy. Peter Hillman '75, leader of the project and a retired lawyer in N. Pownal VT, said: “Clyde was a creative genius who had a unique and distinctive musical style that forged jazz, classical, blues, fusion, funk, gospel and other genres into what he liked to call 'Contemporary Classic' and African-American music. Sadly, he passed quite young, and his achievements and vision became overlooked until now, when we and those who knew, performed with, and loved him are proud and to proclaim his lasting contributions."
Towards that end, Hillman produced a series of three videos, set to Criner's music, and his life and art. Those well-received videos are at the Clyde Criner Tribute page of YouTube YouTube and elsewhere. A feature story about the project recently appeared in “Williams Today"
Two Worlds
Determined to shine a new light on the late musician and composer Clyde Criner ’75, Williams classmates carried...Criner began his recording career even as he pursued graduate studies, first at New England Conservatory (Masters) and then at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (Ph.D., Music Education). His early contributions were playing keyboards on albums by the likes of Alphonso Johnson, Chico Freeman, and Archie Shepp, one of his UMass mentors. Soon, he began touring extensively, debuted at Carnegie Hall, and had featured profiles in “Down Beat" Magazine and other publications. Criner's own three original albums were New England, Behind the Sun, featuring Carlos Santana), and The Color of Dark. He was in great demand as a “sideman" on albums of others, performed widely, and taught at numerous institutions, including Williams (where he designed the first African-American course) and Bennington.
“This promises to be an exciting and enlightening event," Hillman said, explaining: “Clyde positively affected so many lives and careers. This is really the first opportunity for some of those accomplished artists and classmates to celebrate his originality, and share their appreciation. Honoring a genius is easy and Clyde Criner left a great deal of creativity here, in such a short period of time, said Avery Sharpe. “I look forward to playing and channeling his spirit for all to enjoy."
