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THE SOMETHING MORE QUARTET
Bassist Buster Williams is one of the key players in modern jazz with a rock-solid grounding in harmony, counterpoint and orchestration. Buster’s musicianship is impeccable and his rhythmic sense unfailing. Williams work as a leader is a blueprint for bassists on how to assume a more proactive, forward position in an ensemble without throwing it out of balance.
The New Yorker
In Williams hands, the bass is a fully articulate solo voice. His big, deep, resilient and inventive playing has made him the bassist of choice throughout the jazz world. He has worked with just about everyone of import on the jazz scene, including long stints with Herbie Hancock and Nancy Wilson.
JazzIs
Buster decided it was time to take the plunge, step up to the front, play his music, and express his concept of a cohesive musical unit. Since the inception of his own band, Something More has toured the globe many times.
All About Jazz /strong>
Legendary bassist Buster Williams leads his Something More quartet that includes Steve Wilson [saxophones],. George Colligan [piano] and Lenny White [drums]. The Guardian calls Williams one of the great acoustic bassists, and JazzTimes states Williams resume ranks with that of any bassist in the modern era. It s a resume that includes working with Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt when he was 17; backing singing legends Betty Carter, Sarah Vaughn and Nancy Wilson in the 60s; anchoring Herbie Hancock s Mwandishi sextet into the 70s; and co-founding the Timeless All-Stars and Sphere after that. As important as he is as a bassist with his virtuosic technique and an unmistakable sound, he is equally known for his compositions and bands, which The New Yorker hails as modern, mainstream at its best.
George Colligan – piano
George Colligan is a New York based pianist, organist,drummer, trumpeter, teacher, and bandleader, who is one of the most original and compelling jazz artists of his generation. An award-winning composer (Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation grant recipient) and player (winner, Jazzconnect.com Jazz Competition), Colligan is highly in demand as a sideman, having worked with players like Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Buster Williams, and Lonnie Plaxico, both on the bandstand and in recording sessions (appearing on over 100 CDs). He has released 24 recordings full of his intelligent writing and impressive technique. His latest CD on the Origin Label is called The Endless Mysteries and features Larry Grenadier and Jack DeJohnette. Colligan s musical style incorporates everything from showtunes to funk, from free improvisation to 20th century classical music. His performances include dazzling technique as well as mature restraint. Colligan was on the faculty of the Juilliard School for two years and is currently an Assistant Professor at Portland State University.
Steve Wilson – saxophones
Steve Wilson has attained ubiquitous status in the studio and on the stage with the greatest names in jazz, as well as critical acclaim as a bandleader in his own right. A musician’s musician, Wilson has brought his distinctive sound to more than 150 recordings led by such celebrated and wide-ranging artists as Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Bill Bruford, Gerald Wilson, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Billy Childs, Karrin Allyson, Don Byron, and Mulgrew Miller among many others. He has eight recordings as a leader.
Becoming a first-call choice for veteran and emerging artists alike, Wilson was the subject of a New York Times profile “A Sideman’s Life”, highlighting his work with Ralph Peterson, Jr., Michele Rosewoman, Renee Rosnes, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Joanne Brackeen, The American Jazz Orchestra, The Mingus Big Band, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and Buster Williams’ Quintet “Something More”. In 1996 he joined the acclaimed Dave Holland Quintet, and from 1998-2001 he was a member of Chick Corea’s Grammy winning sextet “Origin”. Wilson documented his first four recordings as a leader on the Criss Cross label New York Summit, Step Lively, Blues for Marcus and Four For Time. He then recorded two projects for Chick Corea’s Stretch Records label Generations, and Passages. In 2003 Wilson’s recording Soulful Song was released on MAX JAZZ launching the label’s Horn Series.
In 2009 Wilson was a member of the Blue Note 7, an all-star septet assembled to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. The project culminated in a 50-city tour of the U.S. and their recording Mosaic.
An in-demand and passionate educator Wilson is an Associate Professor at City College of New York, and on faculty at the Juilliard School. He has been artist-in-residence and/or visiting artist at University of Michigan, University of Oregon, University of Maryland-College Park, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Delaware, Lemoyn College, North Carolina Central University, Bowling Green University, Lafayette College, University of Northern Colorado, SUNY New Paltz, Florida State University, California State University at Stanislaus, University of Manitoba, Hamilton College, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and for the award winning arts organization CITYFOLK in Dayton, Ohio.
Lenny White – drums
Being one of the newer innovators on his instrument, Lenny White has found the time to expand and reinvent his career by also becoming a great producer. His producing talents have been sampled by Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, Diane Reeves, Rachelle Ferelle and Marlena Shaw just to name a few singers. Chaka Khan was nominated for a Best Jazz Vocal Performance Grammy as a result of her participation on Lenny s critically
acclaimed Echoes Of An Era project. He s also produced projects for Pieces Of A Dream, the late great Grover Washington, Gato Barbieri, Wayne Shorter, Wallace Roney and hip-hop artist Big Daddy Kane. Not only has Lenny played with virtually everybody in the music business, he s also managed to stay in touch with numerous innovative musicians, helping create some of the most influential music of the past three decades.
Along with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola he helped define Jazz-Fusion with the Grammy Award winning group, Return To Forever. With fellow Jamaica Boy band member and great producer Marcus Miller, Lenny co-scored the music for Reginald Hudlin s critical and financially successful film House Party. Additionally, Lenny had a hand in the soundtrack for Spike Lee s film School Daze.
Alternating between drummer and producer and always on the cutting edge of the music scene, Lenny has been continually pushing the musical envelope. 1968 was the year the great Jackie McLean asked an 18 year old Lenny to be a part of his band. The two drummers Jackie had employed right before Lenny were Tony Williams and Jack DeJohnette. Everyone said Miles Davis was next. In 1999, Lenny celebrated 30 years in the recording industry being baptized in 1969 as a teenager on the landmark recording Bitches Brew with Miles Davis. That recording helped change the face of music for the next 30 years. He was also on trumpeter Freddie Hubbard s famous RED CLAY along with greats Herbie Hancock, the late great Joe Henderson and Ron Carter. Lenny has been a part of more than a few landmark recordings. He s recorded eleven albums as a leader and has toured Europe, The Far East and The U.S. with his own bands. Recently Lenny has participated in a number of Lecture /performance panels at The Harvard Law School and Columbia University discussing the new directions of Jazz and Hip-Hop and the effects they have on our culture.