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| CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF LEROY WILLIAMS Wed., September 14th 6:30pm at the Interchurch Center 61 Claremont Ave Manhattan NY by Ron Scott Leroy Williams the consummate drummer, who earned an international reputation playing in large and small ensembles, primarily as a defined contributor (calling him a sideman would be an understatement), recording with the likes of Hank Mobley, Andrew Hill, Barry Harris and Charles McPherson, died on June 1. He was 85. Upon arriving in New York City in the 1960s, his reputation preceded him having honed his percussion skills, playing in a variety of clubs in his hometown of Chicago. Williams is best known for his 50-year span performing and recording with pianist and composer Barry Harris. He also along with fellow drummer Jimmy Lovelace played integral roles as teacher and mentor in Harris' weekly jazz workshops. During the late 1970s, he played with a host of noted bands at Jazzmobile summer concerts, where he performed intermittently into the 1990s. Williams inspired many young musicians as an instructor at Jazzmobile's weekly Saturday jazz workshops in Harlem. "Leroy was a good friend and musician-mate, who was not only an excellent drummer but wonderful person to work with and be associated with, " said bassist and composer Paul West (former director of Jazzmobile 1969-73). Williams was a respected elderstatesman of jazz, having the opportunity to see the legends Charlie Parker and Lester Young perform live while having conversations with drummers Papa Joe Jones and Art Blakey. These experiences represented decades of musical wisdom and rich traditions that he gladly shared with a cross-section of students throughout the United States and abroad. When not on the road, Williams was a regular at the Columbia University Center for Jazz Studies functions. "He often visited my jazz classes. Once we had a program called [Percussion Discussion], with tap dancers featured along with great drummers, " said Robert O'Meally, Zora Neale Hurston professor, Columbia University. "When in a pinch we needed someone to trade eights with Jimmy Slyde, the master tapper, Leroy volunteered. And the two of them lit up the room: Jimmy drumming with his feet, Leroy tap dancing with his sticks on the drums." "You need to see the beat, " he said to a group of students at Columbia University encouraging them to attend "live" music in concerts or clubs, to watch the music-makers in action. Leroy Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois on Feb. 3, 1937, his mother was the choir pianist for the church pastored by her father. He attended DuSable High School, famous for its music program under the direction of legendary Captain Walter H. Dyett, whose pupils included Johnny Griffin, Clifford Jordan, and Charles Davis. Williams did not study with Dyett, but he recommended him for tutelage under the local master-percussionist, Oliver Coleman. Williams' first gigs included work with bassist Wilbur Ware, who was his most important early mentor. In 1967 when Williams arrived in New York, Ware was already there. "Wilbur was very encouraging to me, he helped give me confidence. It was Wilbur who hooked me up with Hank Mobley in New York, " explained Williams. In the summer of 1970 Ware recommended Williams to play with Thelonious Monk, whose regular band had just broken up. "Come on, man, " Wilbur had said, "are you ready?!" With Monk, Williams played a week at the Village Vanguard, a week in Raleigh, and local gigs around Manhattan. "I learned a lot just watching Monk, and from the few things he would tell me directly, " said Williams in a conversation shared with O'Meally. "He dug my time, but one night, maybe I was trying to show too much technique, and he turned to me and said, 'Leroy, we've got all night to play, baby.' Well, I learned from that to make everything I did play count for something, no extra flash." In the 1990s he was a member of the group El Mollenium with guitarist Roni Ben-Hur, pianist Bertha Hope, and bassist Walter Booker. Williams' great musicianship as a drummer, which made blissful and hard swinging notes colorful visions floating in the air, was grossly underrated by the critics at large. To his fellow musicians such as Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Heath, and Ray Bryant, he was on the top of their drummer call list. He recorded extensively with Barry Harris, Junior Cook and Charles McPherson. "Leroy Williams' placement of the beat allows the other musicians to play in front of it or behind it without losing the flow, " stated author and critic Stanley Crouch. Williams was a deeply spiritual player who could light up a room with his smile or sizzling drum kit. Those who knew him would notice him approaching at least a block away, he had this super cool strut, a Chicago-Harlem stroll, a hip flow like a Lou Donaldson solo, he will be missed. Save this date: September 14, 2022 is when family and friends will celebrate the life of Leroy Williams at the Interchurch Center, Claremont Avenue at 120th St. Manhattan. write your comments about the article :: © 2022 Jazz News :: home page |