Buster Williams
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One of jazz’s most valuable sidemen, Buster Williams has been able to flourish through many periods of changing fashions in jazz. Best known since the 1980s for his solid, dark tone and highly refined technique on the acoustic bass, the jazz-rock generation knew him as the mobile anchor of Herbie Hancock’s exploratory “Mwandishi” Sextet from 1969 to 1973, doubling on acoustic and electric basses sometimes attached to electronic effects devices.
Born Charles Anthony Williams, Jr. in Camden, New Jersey on April 17, 1942. His mother was a seamstress and his father, nick-named ‘Cholly’, was a bassist, and worked various day jobs to support his family.
“My father was my teacher. He would prepare my lessons for me,’’ Buster recalls, “and when I got home from school I was supposed to practice, then he would listen while he was eating his dinner. It was an unwritten law that I had to play it right or hear about it. I was going to be the best. I had no choice. In those days, instead of a two car family, we were a two bass family. My father was a fan of Slam Stewart, and he strung his basses the way Slam did. Instead of the regular G-D-A-E, he strung a high C; ie,C-G-D-A. Adding the C string puts the playing of higher-pitched passages at a more comfortable position. Of course, when he decided to teach me he restrung one of his basses in the traditional manner for me. He told me, ‘If I re-string my bass for you, you’d better be serious!’”
Born Charles Anthony Williams, Jr. in Camden, New Jersey on April 17, 1942. His mother was a seamstress and his father, nick-named ‘Cholly’, was a bassist, and worked various day jobs to support his family.
“My father was my teacher. He would prepare my lessons for me,’’ Buster recalls, “and when I got home from school I was supposed to practice, then he would listen while he was eating his dinner. It was an unwritten law that I had to play it right or hear about it. I was going to be the best. I had no choice. In those days, instead of a two car family, we were a two bass family. My father was a fan of Slam Stewart, and he strung his basses the way Slam did. Instead of the regular G-D-A-E, he strung a high C; ie,C-G-D-A. Adding the C string puts the playing of higher-pitched passages at a more comfortable position. Of course, when he decided to teach me he restrung one of his basses in the traditional manner for me. He told me, ‘If I re-string my bass for you, you’d better be serious!’”
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Something More
Buster Williams
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Griot Liberte
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Crystal Reflections
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Live Volume 1
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Shoutbox
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TowerFestival wrote:
2009 marks the 50th Anniversary of the original release date of Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue. Legendary jazz drummer, Jimmy Cobb (the only surviving member from the original recording) leads a contemporary all-star band featuring Wallace Roney (trumpet), Javon Jackson (tenor saxophone), Vincent Herring (alto saxophone), Larry Willis (piano), and Buster Williams (bass.) The group will perform their interpretations of Kind of Blue’s five masterpieces: “So What”, “Freddie Freeloader”, “Blue In Green”, “All Blues”, and “Flamenco Sketches” plus other classics by Davis, John Coltrane, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, and original compositions inspired by this era. Go to www.towerfestival.com for information and tickets
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wahit wrote:
true...
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astro1_rohit wrote:
i hate that bio.. name-dropping
Videos
News
Buster Williams' ArtistShare Project
13 May 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/busterwilliamsquartet
Dear Friends,We are excited to announce the beginning of a
new recording collaboration by Buster Williams and the Brazilian
guitarist Toninho Horta! The two will develop a new enhanced
…
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Buster Williams' ArtistShare Project
13 May 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/busterwilliamsquartet -
13 May 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/busterwilliamsquartet -
16 Jul 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/busterwilliamsquartet
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Recent Activity
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jens_thulin, Train-Hop, M-arin-a and 3 other people added Buster Williams to their libraries. 18 days ago
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Recovery and New Tour’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Buster Williams' ArtistShare Project’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Buster Williams Reviewed with Denny Zeitlin Trio at AllAboutJazz’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘New West Coast dates added’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Live Volume 1 Now on iTunes’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Free Download’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘New Live Album Available for Download!’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Listen to Live Volume 1’. May 2011
- Buster Williams posted a news item ‘Single Tracks from the Album for Sale’. May 2011
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