What a stellar performance by the world's great gentleman of jazz, Larry Willis, Buster Williams and Ben Riley. I was so tired on Sunday night. I had been running around all week and this is the last night, the last set and the last opportunity for me to see the Larry Willis Trio. These are some of the finest players in the business and collectively, these cats have such a rich jazz history, they are jazz history! They have played with the greats from Jackie McLean, Lee Morgan, Joe Henderson, Cannonball, Stan Getz, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Barron, to Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. I really do not need to say much more than that, other than they make an outstanding, beautifully sounding cohesive trio, and I am glad to have had the experience.
Larry is at the piano just relaxing. It seems as if he is just enjoying the show and his fingers automatically take over and do all of the work. A fine tuned precision piano master. Talk about to ultimate professional. Larry introduces his team in such a gentlemanly fashion. With style, poise and grace on Bass and Drums is Buster Williams and Ben Riley.
Larry gives much praise to Ruth Price, the audience and all of the supporters of the music. He credits tonight’s audience of his last night at the Bakery with being small but, mighty as well as recognizing its intelligence. Larry is humble, honest and quite the humorous character.
He composed a tune called “
I love the bow and Buster Williams speaks so very well on it. He makes it sound like it was Nina Simone singing with crooning with each glide across the strings. Music so passionate, that you not only hear it audibly but, you physically feel it as you emotions take you on a cerebral journey. Music comes from emotion and experience and these players have been creating all of those sounds that we take so much for granted.
Ben Riley has played and traveled all over the
world and his love for the music is expressed in his masterful playing.
I asked him where his favorite place to play jazz was in the world and
he replied without hesitation, “
Audibly sharing the talents of this wonderful trio make us become one with them and the music. It bonds us together emotionally where their travels become our travels, their challenges become our challenges, their triumphs become our triumphs. We are one.
Larry and Ben leave the stage for Buster to perform solo. If you close your eyes, you are under his power. Everyone in the trio has this affect. If you give up control and take the journey, you are immersed in the finest details of your imagination. There is no need to abuse any substances to get high, smoke this instead!
It is warm, beautiful, natural, peaceful and essential for life. Jazz music in its finest form, the Larry Willis Trio. The new cd is called, “Santuary” on Mapleshade records and it will make you love somebody. Buy the disc and spread the love!
LeRoy Downs
