Paul Murphy - Larry Willis 'Excursions'

Two Giants of Avant-Garde Jazz!
Their goal is to have these solos be an outgrowth of cultural perceptions and expectations.
Paul started studying drums with Gene Krupa and then with Louis Bellson. By age 16 he was playing bebop with Billy Taylor. (Duke Ellington's bassist) After playing jazz and blues on the Washington scene for a few years, he split for the West Coast. While there he started playing Avant-Garde in San Francisco and the Bay Area. In 1974, Jimmy Lyons heard Paul play in Oakland and suggested he move to New York. In the summer of 1974 Paul joined Jimmy Lyons's group and for the next 8 years Paul played, recorded and toured the USA and Europe with Lyons. During his extremely busy time period in New York, Paul still found time to manage Rashied Ali's historic-legendary club "Ali's Alley" while he led his own quintet with John Coltrane's world famous trumpet player Dewey Johnson (from his profoundly momentous 'Ascension' recording), along with Jay Oliver on bass, Karen Borca on bassoon, and Mary Anne Driscoll on piano. Paul has been at the fore front of early Avant-Garde jazz with his remarkable and extraordinary drumming technique. His playing style is quite unique and very much his own.
Larry Willis' first year of studying music theory was at the Manhattan School of Music. There he began performing regularly with Jackie McLean. After he graduated he made his first jazz recording, McLean's 'Right Now!' which featured two of his 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 soon decided to concentrate on jazz because of the difficulties African American musicians had in finding work in concert music. Paul and Larry's latest recording 'Excursions' is a must hear for anyone interested in the high energy fusion principals of Bebop and Avant-Garde Jazz. This is Jazz at an impressive NEW level.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Avant
• Garde
• Jazz
• Piano
• Ride
• Cymbal
• John
• Coltrane
• Ascension
• Paul
• Murphy
• Larry
• Willis
• Freestyle

[guitarsit45]

Foundations is a must have .

The April Session.

[mansfih]

Paul Murphy is wonderful percussionist with a total knowledge/understanding of the trap set. And he really is sensitive and soulful just like Larry Willis. This monster duo effort..Horace

[ragewar13]

GREAT DRUMMER ! ! !

[extort13]

Your Brusk Work Is Amazing ! ! !

[hesperas179]

Paul,

This is wonderful work!

V~

[guitarsit45]

I have just had the chance to listen to Paul and Larry's latest release "EXCURSIONS". It is TREMENDOUS and marks a long awaited change in JAZZ. The engineer is Jim Fox of Lion and Fox , the sound is crystal clear. A MUST *****.

[guitarsit45]

great photos of larry and paul...an informal study of these great men.

[vicquartet]

Mr. Willis and Mr. Murphy are at the forefont of improvisation , Jazz.

[guitarsit45]

i have heard larry and paul play on the powers of two vol. 1 and 2. they are truly giants.