Billy Bang
Billy Bang | |
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Hat hut , TUM |
Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Biography
Bang's family moved to New York City's
Bang studied the violin until he earned a hardship scholarship to the
Bang spent six months in
After Bang returned from the war, his life lacked direction. The job he had held before the army had been filled in his absence.[4] He pursued and then abandoned a law degree, before becoming politically active and falling in with an underground group of revolutionaries.[1] The group recognized Bang's knowledge of weapons from his time in the Army, and they used him to procure firearms for the group during trips to Maryland and Virginia, buying from pawnshops and other small operators who did not conduct extensive background checks.[4] During one of these trips, Bang spotted three violins hanging at the back of a pawnshop, and he impulsively purchased one.[4]
He later joined Sun Ra's band. In 1977, Bang co-founded the String Trio of New York (with guitarist James Emery and double bassist John Lindberg). Billy Bang explored his experience in Vietnam in two albums: Vietnam: The Aftermath (2001) and Vietnam: Reflections (2005), recorded with a band which included several other veterans of that war. The latter album also features two Vietnamese musicians based in the United States (voice and đàn tranh zither).
The documentary Billy Bang Lucky Man documents Billy Bang's return to Vietnam in 2008 to collaborate with Vietnamese musicians and come to terms with his experiences in the war.[6][7]
Bang died on April 11, 2011.[3] According to an associate, Bang had had lung cancer.[3] He had been scheduled to perform on the opening day of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival on June 10, 2011.[8] He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.
Discography
As leader or co-leader
- 1977: Black Man's Blues (NoBusiness 2011) with the Survival Ensemble
- 1978: New York Collage (& Survival Ensemble) (Anima Recs reissued as NoBusiness 2011)
- 1979: hat Hut)
- 1979: Sweet Space (Anima)
- 1981: Changing Seasons (Bellows)
- 1981: Soul Note)
- 1982: Untitled Gift (Anima, 1982)
- 1982: Invitation (Soul Note)
- 1982: Dennis Charles; reissued as Bangception, Willisau 1982 (hatOLOGY, 1998)
- 1982: Live at Green Space (Anima)
- 1983: Outline No. 12 (Celluloid)
- 1984: The Fire from Within (Soul Note)
- 1986: Live at Carlos 1 (Soul Note)
- 1991: Valve No. 10 (Soul Note)
- 1992: A Tribute to Stuff Smith (Soul Note)
- 1993: Hip Hop Be Bop (ITM)
- 1996: Joy (Within)! (Silkheart) with William Hooker
- 1996: Spirits Gathering (CIMP)
- 1997: Forbidden Planet (Masterplan)
- 1997: Bang On! (Justin Time)
- 1997: Commandment (For the Sculpture of Alain Kirili) (No More)
- 2000: Big Bang Theory (Justin Time)
- 2001: Vietnam: The Aftermath (Justin Time)
- 2004: Vietnam: Reflections (Justin Time)
- 2005: Configuration (Silkheart) with Sirone
- 2007: Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Justin Time)
- 2009: Four Seasons - East meets West (Heart Lord Studio, Japan)
- 2010: Prayer for Peace (TUM)
- 2010: Billy Bang/Bill Cole (Shadrack)
- 2013: Da Bang! (TUM)
- 2014: Medicine Buddha (NoBusiness) with William Parker
- 2021: Lucky Man: Music from the Film (BBE)
With the String Trio of New York
- First String (Black Saint, 1979)
- Area Code 212 (Black Saint, 1980)
- Common Goal (Black Saint, 1983)
- Rebirth of a Feeling (Black Saint, 1983)
- Natural Balance (Black Saint, 1986)
With the FAB Trio (Joe Fonda / Barry Altschul / Bang)
- Transforming the Space (CIMP, 2003)
- Live at the Iron Works, Vancouver (Konnex, 2005)
- A Night in Paris (Live at the Sunset) (Marge, 2008)
- Live in Amsterdam (Porter, 2009)
- History of Jazz in Reverse (TUM, 2011)
As sideman
With Ahmed Abdullah
- Tara's Song (TUM, 2005)
- Traveling the Spaceways (Planet Arts, 2004)
With Marilyn Crispell
- Spirit Music (Cadence, 1983)
With Kahil El'Zabar
- Big Cliff (Delmark, 1995)
- The Power (CIMP, 2000)
- Spirits Entering (Delmark, 2001)
- If You Believe... (8th Harmonic Breakdown, 2002)
- Live at the River East Art Center (Delmark, 2005)
- Big M: A Tribute to Malachi Favors (Delmark, 2006)
With The Group (Ahmed Abdullah, Marion Brown, Bang, Sirone, Fred Hopkins, Andrew Cyrille)
- Live (recorded in 1986, issued in 2012 by NoBusiness Records)
With John Lindberg
- Dimension 5 (Black Saint, 1981)
With William Parker
- Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace (Centering, 1980)
- Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear, 2003)
- Wood Flute Songs (AUM Fidelity, 2013)
- Experience(2004)
References
- ^ a b c d Hull, Tom. "Billy Bang Is in the House Archived June 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine", The Village Voice, published October 3, 2005, accessed July 17, 2007.
- ^ Allmusic, accessed July 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c Mergner, Lee (April 12, 2011). "Jazz Violinist Billy Bang Dies". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Jung, Fred. "A Fireside Chat With Billy Bang", AllAboutJazz.com, published November 14, 2003, accessed July 17, 2007.
- ^ The Santa-Cruz Sentinel, published November 11, 2004, accessed July 17, 2007.
- ^ "Billy Bang Lucky Man". BBE. Bandcamp. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Billy Bang Lucky Man". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Netsky, Ron (April 12, 2011). "OBIT: Jazz violinist Billy Bang dead at 63". City Newspaper. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
External links
- Billy Bang discography at Discogs
- Billy Bang at Myspace
- Billy Bang Archived June 5, 2011, at the MindSpring
- Billy Bang interview by Fred Jung at All About Jazz
- Billy Bang audio interview at New England Jazz History Database
- Billy Bang obituary by Steve Smith in The New York Times
- Billy Bang bio from Justin Time Records