Larry Willis

Lawrence Elliott Willis (December 20, 1942 – September 29, 2019) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop, and avant-garde. Willis was born in New York City. After his first year studying music theory at the Manhattan School of Music he began performing regularly with Jackie McLean. After he graduated he made his first jazz recording, McLean's Right Now! in January 1965, which featured two of Willis' compositions. His first recording of any type, however, was as a singer with the Music and Arts Chorale Ensemble, performing an opera by Aaron Copland under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He decided to concentrate on jazz because of the difficulties African-American musicians had in finding work in concert music. Throughout his career he performed with a wide range of musicians, including several years as keyboardist for Blood, Sweat & Tears (beginning in 1972). He spent several years as pianist for trumpeters Nat Adderley and Woody Shaw as well as long and productive tenures with Roy Hargrove and with Jerry Gonzalez and his Fort Apache Band. His late recording with Paul Murphy, Exposé, demonstrated the fusion principles of bebop and avant-garde jazz. His composition "Sanctuary" began exploring works employing strings. After a successful performance in Frank Lloyd Wright's Annie Pfieffer Chapel at Florida Southern College's Child of the Sun Jazz Festival he was commissioned to write a full-scale orchestral work for jazz trio and orchestra. He worked with Hugh Masekela on a South African Suite of music and interpreted Miles Davis' work. He was in the Round About Midnight tour of Miles Davis' music. He received the Don Redman award in 2011, and the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award at Howard University in 2012. He died of an aneurysm in Baltimore at the age of 76.

I Fall in Love Too Easily (The Final Session at Rudy Van Gelder's) - 2020-05-29T00:00:00.000000Z

Freedom's Bell - 2017-08-30T00:00:00.000000Z

Gettin' It Done - 2012-07-10T00:00:00.000000Z

The Best of the Funky Blues from The Groove Merchant Vault - 2012-07-02T00:00:00.000000Z

This Time the Dream's on Me - 2012-05-22T00:00:00.000000Z

You're Driving Me Crazy - 2011-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

From Harlem To Madrid Vol.1 - 2008-11-10T00:00:00.000000Z

Groove Merchant Super Funk Collection - Return of Jazz Funk - 2008-05-13T00:00:00.000000Z

The Offering - 2008-01-25T00:00:00.000000Z

Blue Fable - 2007-03-16T00:00:00.000000Z

Faith - 2006-11-14T00:00:00.000000Z

Jazz Masters - 2005-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Woody Shaw Live, Vol. 3 (Recorded Live at the Keystone Korner) - 2002-11-15T00:00:00.000000Z

Passion Dance - 1996-01-23T00:00:00.000000Z

A Tribute to Someone (feat. Curtis Fuller, John Stubblefield, Tom Williams, David Williams, Ben Riley) - 1994-03-20T00:00:00.000000Z

Love Light - 1994-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Steal Away - 1993-11-22T00:00:00.000000Z

Unforgettable - 1993-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Works of Art, Vol. 2 - 1992-09-22T00:00:00.000000Z

How Do You Keep the Music Playing? - 1992-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Let's Play - 1991-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Nightfall - 1991-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Flight of Mind - 1991-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Heavy Blue - 1990-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Just in Time - 1989-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z