Audacity by Buster Williams
"A lovely, sneakily inventive album."
-- Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times
"AUDACITY [is] truly one of the highlight recordings of the new year, and a true celebration of the bassist's 75th year. Here's to many more!"
-- Mike Jurkovic, All About Jazz
"AUDACITY is a reminder that Buster Williams has always been a vital voice on his instrument, and that he still has much to say."
-- Jeff Tamarkin, JazzTimes
"This is a uniformly impressive outing by a uniformly impressive artist."
-- George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
***
"Audacity" is a word that aptly describes the bold and intrepid bassist Buster Williams. Whether supplying eminently tasteful but strong-as-steel backing for singers like Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughan, or venturing into uncharted new territory as a member of Herbie Hancock’s groundbreaking Mwandishi band, Williams’ playing has always evidenced that fearless willingness to leap unhesitatingly into the unknown.
AUDACITY marks another chapter in that ongoing history. The album finds Williams stepping into the studio as a leader for the first time since 2004’s GRIOT LIBERTE, leading his long-running all-star quartet Something More with saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist George Colligan and drummer Lenny White. Conceived as the legendary bassist celebrated the milestone of his 75th birthday, AUDACITY reveals an artist turning a new corner while acknowledging the experience of three-quarters of a century behind him.
Turning 75 compelled Williams to re-enter the recording studio after a self-imposed, decade-long hiatus but he was also driven by the continuing evolution of his long-running band. It had developed a fiery and wide-ranging sound that Williams felt needed to be captured. AUDACITY accomplished that goal for the bass great, finding him and his quartet on an important new trajectory.
Tracklist
| 1. | Where Giants Dwell | 6:43 |
| 2. | Song of the Outcasts | 10:33 |
| 3. | Sisko | 6:38 |
| 4. | Ariana Anai | 4:56 |
| 5. | Lost on 4th Avenue | 8:36 |
| 6. | Stumblin' | 4:07 |
| 7. | Triumph | 8:15 |
| 8. | Briana | 10:12 |
| 9. | Audacity | 6:47 |
Credits
BUSTER WILLIAMS & SOMETHING MORE
Steve Wilson - saxophone
George Colligan - piano
Buster Williams - bass
Lenny White - drums
Recorded Live on December 4, 2017
at Sear Sound Studio C, New York City
Produced by Paul Stache
Associate Producer: Damon Smith
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Christopher Allen
Studio Assistant: Owen Mulholland
Photography by Jimmy and Dena Katz
Buster Williams studio photo by Gulnara Khamatova
Steve Wilson photo by John Abbott
George Colligan photo by Beth Olsen
Lenny White photo by Henry Adebonojo
Liner Notes by George Colligan
Design by Damon Smith and Paul Stache
Executive Producers: Frank Christopher & Paul Stache
License
All rights reserved.
Charles Anthony "Buster" Williams, Jr. is an indispensable American jazz bassist. Known for his membership in pianist Herbie Hancock's early 1970s group, working with guitarist Larry Coryell from the 1980s to present, working in the Thelonious Monk repertory band Sphere, Williams is also as the accompanist of choice for many singers, as well as a prolific composer and important bandleader.