Late Tony Williams--sadly neglected
Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 07/02/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Have we forgotten him so soon after his death in 1997? This disc, along with The Story of Neptune, presents Tony Williams, one of the all-time great jazz drummers, in a classic two-horn-front-line-plus=rhythm setting. The players are all top notch: Bill Pierce on tenor and soprano sax; Wallace Roney on trumpet; Mulgrew Miller on piano; and Ira Coleman on bass. One would think that these two discs, which document his last working band in brilliant form, would be at the very top of the Tony Williams catalog. Not so, at least if Amazon.com is any indication. As this writing, neither of them sells enough to even have a numerical rating.What's wrong? Aren't they hip enough? Granted, this isn't the fusion that made him famous, but, arguably, this setting presents his talents even more optimally than his classic 70s fusion outings. Too dated? That can't be it. They sound much fresher and more compelling than his earlier discs.I think it's all about nostalgia. Williams made his mark as a jazz/fusion pioneer, and he will be remembered, for better or worse, in that context. His fans want to hear him play that stuff. Even if he WAS a great drummer in a classic acoustic jazz setting, most people just don't want to listen to him playing post-bop. Too bad. On Native Heart and The Story of Neptune he shows that he was a very powerful player in a more traditional setting. In fact, these are my very favorite Tony Williams discs.Why wouldn't you want to hear him at the peak of his powers, near the end of his career, with his working band? Did his drumming decline in his later years? A close listen to these discs clearly shows that it didn't. Was he a better fusion drummer than a straight-ahead drummer? I don't think so.With a very attractive selection of Latin-tinged numbers, a blues-shuffle, a classic post-bop offering, a couple of ballads, all melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically riveting, and brilliantly played, this represents some of the finest jazz produced in the late 80s and early 90s. Mulgrew Miller especially stands out. He seems to have zeroed in completely on Williams' wave length and provides a savvy comping and glorious soloing. Wallace Roney sounds as good as I've ever heard him. Bill Pierce, a very solid player who never got his due, also sounds in fine fettle.These two discs are not to be missed."
