Gary willis

Classical_Thump · #1 02-22-2006, 08:33 PM

I really love his playing, what are the best recordings to buy, both in a group and solo? Thanks

ps- thought this would go into bassists, because it was more specific than general recordings

DaveCustomMade · #2 02-23-2006, 08:15 AM

Get iTunes and search for him (or Tribal Tech). You'll find plenty of good stuff on there.

He's one of my most favorite bass players. Few do I find more appealing.

fretlessrock · #3 02-23-2006, 09:08 AM

I like "Bent" the most of the stuff I have heard so far. What a killer disc.

DGbass70 · #4 02-23-2006, 04:18 PM

TRIBAL TECH

Alan Vorse · #5 02-23-2006, 04:26 PM

Any Tribal Tech (the newer the better) especially Rocket Science.

middlebit · #6 02-23-2006, 05:34 PM

His two solo albums are both great: 'No Sweat' and 'Bent' (I know they can be hard to find from time to time but I think you can download them from his website). And yea, Tribal Tech, 'Rocket Science' and 'Thick' are great, and so is 'Face First' even though it took me a while to get used to the 80's sounding keys. He also guests on an album called 'Uncle Moe's Space Ranch', also worth checking out if you can stand so much guitar!

JimK · #7 02-23-2006, 07:14 PM

I would rate Bent slightly ahead of No Sweat...

Tribal Tech-
I actually prefer Dr. Hee (their 2nd album) over the later stuff...at this time, TT had electric instruments(guitar-bass-keys) & acoustic instruments(drums-percussion/mallets-sax). This is how they came up with their band name: "Tribal" & "Tech".

Rocket Science is very good...Covington's drumming seemed light years ahead compared to his earlier efforts with the band.
They're long overdue for a new one.

Willis also plays on a couple tracks on Alan Holdsworth's Metal Fatigue...a statement of '80s Fusion.

Lackey · #8 02-23-2006, 08:33 PM

Love Willis! And Covington too!

Don't have his solo discs yet, but out of all my Tribal Tech discs I think Primal Tracks and Reality Check are my favs. Don't have Face First or Rocket Science yet tho. Although his introductory solo on Slick off of Thick is incredible.

Willis is THE MAN!

pauljacksonfan · #9 02-24-2006, 06:31 PM

My Tribal Tech faves has to be Illicit and Reality check. Incredible groove and sick solos. To me, his solo on Root food from Illicit is one of the greatest recorded bass solos of all time.

Bent is good as well. Not quite as well rounded as the TT records IMO. The track Bowlegged is worth the price of the disc by itself. Willis and drummer Dennis Chambers give this weird 6/4 song a delicious New Orleans groove that'll send you flying.

But don't forget to check out an amazing trio album with japanese organist Kiyomi Otaka called Out of sight. Willis tears it up and is capably backed by unlikely partner Dave Weckl on drums. This CD has some really great moments and especially the opener "#26" is awesome. Check it out.

The Owl · #10 02-24-2006, 10:01 PM

Not only is Gary a kick-ass bassist but his composing and writing chops are equal to his playing ones! It's ot very often you find tha tin the same person.

jerry · #11 02-25-2006, 03:50 AM

Another nod for 'Bent' here! I've been a fan for a long time, almost every recording with Willis, has some sick playing on it. IMHO, He is one of the deep thinkers of electric bass like Anthony Jackson, Matthew Garrison etc.

AndreasH · #12 02-25-2006, 11:14 AM

Tribal Tech - Reality Check

Great album.

Daniel L. · #13 02-25-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauljacksonfan

But don't forget to check out an amazing trio album with japanese organist Kiyomi Otaka called Out of sight. Willis tears it up and is capably backed by unlikely partner Dave Weckl on drums. This CD has some really great moments and especially the opener "#26" is awesome. Check it out.

Sick album. Weckl and Willis kill it.

stretchcat · #14 02-28-2006, 01:01 PM

Looks like Willis has a new project coming out soon.

http://www.slaughterhouse3.com/

middlebit · #15 02-28-2006, 01:20 PM

Thanks for the info, 'Cat! I was wondering what Willis was up to...it's been dead around his site for a long time. And shock!!! Willis without his cap!!!

jerry · #16 03-01-2006, 03:53 AM

Ooh, ooh new Willis......cool! Thanks for the heads up!

Mike Flynn · #17 03-01-2006, 08:26 AM

Willis is a major bass hero / influence for me on fretless - I was lucky to see him actually play a gig in London last November at the Vortex and it surely rocked - he's f-ing unbeleivable live - the most intense jazz bassist I've heard on electric. the gig was with this guy's band:

http://www.sebastiaancornelissen.com/

There are videos on the website - plus he's made a couple of albums with Cornelissen as well - GW lives in Spain now so we'll hopefully get to hear and see some more of him over here, plus he's a dude...

Cheers

Mike

stretchcat · #18 03-01-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Flynn

Willis is a major bass hero / influence for me on fretless - I was lucky to see him actually play a gig in London last November at the Vortex and it surely rocked - he's f-ing unbeleivable live - the most intense jazz bassist I've heard on electric. the gig was with this guy's band:

http://www.sebastiaancornelissen.com/

There are videos on the website - plus he's made a couple of albums with Cornelissen as well - GW lives in Spain now so we'll hopefully get to hear and see some more of him over here, plus he's a dude...

Cheers

Mike

Thanks for the links. I will be checking those videos out later.