Gary Willis
Encyclopedia
Gary Willis is an American bassist
and composer known foremost as the co-founder (with Scott Henderson
) of the jazz fusion
band Tribal Tech
. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter
, Dennis Chambers
, and Allan Holdsworth
. "Slaughterhouse 3", released in 2006, continued his collaboration with drummer Kirk Covington
as well as saxophonist Llibert Fortuny to form a modern jazz/funk/groove power-trio. Willis's latest solo CD "Actual Fiction" was released on the Abstractlogix label 2007.
In addition to "Actual Fiction", Willis's solo career includes No Sweat from 1996 and Bent in 1998. Willis is also the author of four books for bass guitar
, "Fingerboard Harmony for Bass", "The Gary Willis Collection", "Ultimate Ear Training for Guitar and Bass" and "101 Bass Tips" all published by Hal Leonard.
Willis, a Texas native, studied composition and improvisation at The University of North Texas College of Music, where he switched from guitar to bass.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and composer known foremost as the co-founder (with Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson is a fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech.-Early days:Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age...
) of the jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band Tribal Tech
Tribal Tech
Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band, originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis. From 1993 forward the band included Scott Kinsey on keyboard and Kirk Covington on drums, and has produced nine albums that stretch the borders between blues, jazz, and rock...
. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
, Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, George Duke, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among...
, and Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
. "Slaughterhouse 3", released in 2006, continued his collaboration with drummer Kirk Covington
Kirk Covington
Kirk Covington is a drummer best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Tribal Tech. Born in Midland, Texas, he attended the highly regarded University of North Texas College of Music where he met bassist Gary Willis, with whom he later joined Tribal Tech...
as well as saxophonist Llibert Fortuny to form a modern jazz/funk/groove power-trio. Willis's latest solo CD "Actual Fiction" was released on the Abstractlogix label 2007.
In addition to "Actual Fiction", Willis's solo career includes No Sweat from 1996 and Bent in 1998. Willis is also the author of four books for bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, "Fingerboard Harmony for Bass", "The Gary Willis Collection", "Ultimate Ear Training for Guitar and Bass" and "101 Bass Tips" all published by Hal Leonard.
Willis, a Texas native, studied composition and improvisation at The University of North Texas College of Music, where he switched from guitar to bass.
CD reviews
External links
- Gary Willis website
- Slaughterhouse 3 website
- Bass Guitar Magazine Gary Willis Interview in Issue 29
- Bassist and Composer Gary Willis, 8/01/2007