Kevin Bresnahan Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Many are reporting on Facebook that pianist Larry Willis died this morning at the age of 76. Quote
felser Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Excellent, dependable pianist who played with everyone from Jackie McLean to Hugh Masekela to Blood, Sweat, and Tears. RIP. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Fine pianist and seemed like a good guy. Quote
Gheorghe Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Thats really sad news. I heard some of his more recent work when he played with that fantastic all star quartet "Heads of State". And of course his earlier work with Jackie McLean. Quote
B. Goren. Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Very sad news to start the day with. RIP Mr. Willis. Quote
sidewinder Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Very sad and shocking news, so soon after Harold Mabern’s passing. Such a tasteful and versatile pianist who could excel with a wide range from Jackie McLean to Carla Bley. RIP. Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 RIP. Another great musician has left. Quote
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 RIP--- first knew him from INFINITY- saw him live with Roy Hargrove Quote
JSngry Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 One more link in the chain lost... RIP. Quote
sonnymax Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 11 hours ago, bresna said: Many are reporting on Facebook that pianist Larry Willis died this morning at the age of 76. Has anyone read a verified account of Larry's passing? Quote
Peter Friedman Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 I am saddened to read this news. I especially enjoy Larry's trio recordings on Steeplechase, Sound Hills, and High Note. R.I.P. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) Far as I know, I only heard Larry once — of all places, playing Sunday morning in church here in DC (Larry was from Baltimore, iirc) -- as a special guest-musician that morning. This was shortly after I moved to DC in 2011, and I chatted him up between services too. Seemed like an incredibly nice guy. I think he said the BN date with Jackie was his first ever studio recording, iirc. I rattled off 6-7 recordings that I knew his was on, that were favorites of mine (and this was before I had a smartphone to look all that up in an instant). He seemed to appreciate that his body of work was still known, and appreciated. RIP. Edited September 30, 2019 by Rooster_Ties Quote
clifford_thornton Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 RIP -- enjoyed his playing with Jackie McLean, Robin Kenyatta, et al. Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted September 30, 2019 Author Report Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, sonnymax said: Has anyone read a verified account of Larry's passing? Nothing yet but in searching around Facebook, I got even more bad news from Mike LeDonne's FB feed: Mike LeDonne 18 hrs · Something very bad is happening in the universe right now because some of our greatest artists/people are dropping like flies! Just this morning I found out that Larry Willis and Richard Wyands have both passed away. These were old and dear friends of mine that were also my heroes. I'm still reeling from losing Harold Mabern and now this. I really have no words to express how I feel except to say that this is a very sad time. Losing these 3 masters so close together is very weird and feels very heavy. Edited September 30, 2019 by bresna Quote
sgcim Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) I can't say it better than Mike LeDonne said it above. RIP... Edited October 1, 2019 by sgcim Quote
HutchFan Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) I am so sad to hear the news of Larry Willis' passing. He made some beautiful music, and I'm grateful for it. R.I.P. Edited October 1, 2019 by HutchFan Quote
Justin V Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 This is another punch to the gut. After years of wanting to see Larry Willis perform, I had the good fortune of seeing him play 4 times in the Cleveland area over the past few years. First was with Hugh Masekela, the next two times were with Vanessa Rubin and the last was with Eric Alexander in May. I got the nerve to approach him after the Alexander show, shake his hand and chat for a minute. I pointed out that in the span of about a month, I had seen the entire personnel of his marvelous Steal Away album (Cecil McBee with The Cookers and Gary Bartz with the Oberlin faculty), which was pretty amazing. I also encouraged him to play a solo concert the next time he was in the area. He replied something like, 'We'll see what the future holds.' With the manager of another local club telling me earlier this month that he hoped he could bring Willis in the next time he was in the area, I was optimistic about the future. Thank you for the music, Mr. Willis, and rest in peace. Quote
mikeweil Posted September 30, 2019 Report Posted September 30, 2019 Larry Willis ...... another great loss. His solo piano LP on Mapleshade is one of the most moving and sincere solo piano albums I know. R.I.P. At the same time, he was so funky on the Hugh Masekela double on Blue Thumb or his own Inner Crisis. Quote
soulpope Posted October 1, 2019 Report Posted October 1, 2019 Jazz establishment is leaving .... R.I.P .... Quote
Justin V Posted October 1, 2019 Report Posted October 1, 2019 JazzTimes has confirmed it here. I was desperately hoping that the news wasn't true. Quote
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