duaneiac Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) I read via a West Coast Jazz message group that pianist Claude Williamson has passed away. The message said his son confirmed that he passed away July 16. He had been in a nursing home since suffering a broken hip last year. He recorded albums as a leader as well as playing on albums by Chet Baker, Bud Shank, Barney Kessel, the Lighthouse All Stars and many others. May he Rest In Peace. Edited July 20, 2016 by duaneiac Quote
BillF Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 http://www.jazzwax.com/2016/07/claude-williamson-1926-2016.html Quote
mikeweil Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 R.I.P. I bought the Affinity LP reissues of his Capitol LPs many years ago and liked them a lot, great Bud Powell inspired bebop piano. Quote
Peter Friedman Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 Claude Williamson became a favorite in Japan. He made a lengthy list of recordings for Venus and other labels. Quote
Big Beat Steve Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 1 hour ago, mikeweil said: R.I.P. I bought the Affinity LP reissues of his Capitol LPs many years ago and liked them a lot, great Bud Powell inspired bebop piano. +1 And his records for Bethlehem, Contract and Criterion are very nice too. Bud Powell-inspired - yes, but no clone. There was more to him. Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 1 hour ago, Peter Friedman said: Claude Williamson became a favorite in Japan. He made a lengthy list of recordings for Venus and other labels. And I just pulled the trigger on copies of Blue Minor, his tribute to Sonny Clark, and Song for My Father, too. Blue Minor piqued my interest and I was amused to see that a Google search brought me right back here: Quote
bluesoul Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 Claude Williamson dies at 89; versatile jazz pianist was mainstay of West Coast cool Quote
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 RIP there saying he was the last surviving member, of lighthouse all stars Quote
mikeweil Posted July 20, 2016 Report Posted July 20, 2016 4 hours ago, Big Beat Steve said: +1 And his records for Bethlehem, Contract and Criterion are very nice too. Bud Powell-inspired - yes, but no clone. There was more to him. Didin't mean to say he was a clone - quite the contary. Compared to other West Coast based pianists he was a bit overlooked, methinks ... Quote
Big Beat Steve Posted July 21, 2016 Report Posted July 21, 2016 7 hours ago, mikeweil said: Didin't mean to say he was a clone - quite the contary. Compared to other West Coast based pianists he was a bit overlooked, methinks ... I know you didn't. But i imagine others may have tended to think so. Quote
soulpope Posted July 21, 2016 Report Posted July 21, 2016 Interesting pianist for sure .... R.I.P .... Quote
king ubu Posted July 21, 2016 Report Posted July 21, 2016 I bought his "Kenton Presents" LP a few days ago ... no time to listen so far. Sad news, always enjoyed him in Bud Shank's group. Quote
sidewinder Posted July 21, 2016 Report Posted July 21, 2016 (edited) Sorry to read this. Glad I was able to catch a solo piano recital by Claude Williamson at an open air event about 20 years ago though. It was a very impressive performance. RIP and thanks for that. Interesting the comment above about him being a bit overlooked. The performance I saw was a bit low-key but there was no doubting the quality of the playing. Edited July 21, 2016 by sidewinder Quote
JohnS Posted July 24, 2016 Report Posted July 24, 2016 Very sad news. His Kenton Presents records are two of my favourite piano trio albums. Quote
soulpope Posted July 24, 2016 Report Posted July 24, 2016 3 hours ago, JohnS said: Very sad news. His Kenton Presents records are two of my favourite piano trio albums. These ought to be adequately reissued again .... Quote
Bluesnik Posted July 24, 2016 Report Posted July 24, 2016 Sad to hear this. I liked his Round Midnight album and also the Kenton presents. Quote
HutchFan Posted July 24, 2016 Report Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) Williamson made three trio records with Sam Jones and Roy Haynes for Interplay Records. Quite the rhythm team! I know and can recommend one of them: La Fiesta (1979). This LP was also reissued on Discovery. I haven't heard the others -- New Departure (1978) and Blues in Front (1978) -- but I bet they're good too. I plan to get 'round to them eventually. Edited July 24, 2016 by HutchFan Quote
Justin V Posted July 25, 2016 Report Posted July 25, 2016 I'm mainly familiar with Claude Williamson through the flawless Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges album, but he is all over the Cooper, Holman and Rosolino Mosaic, which I need to pull out. I'll be picking up more of his work soon, as I have none of his leader dates. Thank you for the music, Mr. Williamson, and rest in peace. Quote
gmonahan Posted July 26, 2016 Report Posted July 26, 2016 On 7/24/2016 at 4:17 AM, soulpope said: These ought to be adequately reissued again .... They should still be available on Fresh Sound. gregmo Quote
soulpope Posted July 26, 2016 Report Posted July 26, 2016 1 hour ago, gmonahan said: They should still be available on Fresh Sound. gregmo Do know - but I meant "adequately" .... Quote
gmonahan Posted July 26, 2016 Report Posted July 26, 2016 1 hour ago, soulpope said: Do know - but I meant "adequately" .... Yes, well, once they're available on a label like Fresh Sound, they're unlikely to get reissued anywhere else. gregmo Quote
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