William Hooker (musician)
William Hooker (born June 18, 1946) is an American drummer and composer.
Early life
Hooker was born in New Britain, Connecticut, on June 18, 1946.[1] He began to play the drums at the age of 12.[1] In high school, he played in a rock band, then switched to jazz.[1] After graduating from Central Connecticut College, Hooker moved to California and became interested in free jazz.[1]
Later life and career
Hooker moved to New York in the mid-1970s and was part of the loft scene, playing with musicians such as saxophonists David Murray and David S. Ware.[1] His first recording as a leader was in 1976.[1] His music was too radical to be commercially successful, and Hooker took other jobs to earn a living.[1] This changed after he received praise for a 1988 recording, and he made frequent appearances at the Knitting Factory from early the following decade.[1] Hooker was a founding member of the Text of Light, a musician's collective that released seven albums between 2004 and 2010.[2]
Hooker has led several bands, including a drums–trumpet–saxophone trio and an organ trio.[1] They usually do not feature a bass, "because of the intensity and volume of his drumming".[1] He has also been the drummer in duos with guitarists, including Elliott Sharp and Thurston Moore.[1] Hooker's playing and recordings have embraced a wide range and combination of musics, including free jazz, noise rock, electronics, contemporary classical, and experimental electronic.[2]
The Down Beat reviewer of Hooker's Symphonie Of Flowers album wrote "Hooker uses history to enliven a suite of music that bounds through subgenres and percussive ideas".[3]
Playing style
"He is an elemental drummer of considerable force, equally at home in free-form jazz and avant-garde rock circles; he also experiments with electronics and turntables".[1]
Discography
- ...Is Eternal Life (1982)
- Brighter Lights (1986)
- Lifeline (1988)
- The Firmament Fury (1989)
- Shamballa: Duets with Thurston Moore and Elliott Sharp (1993)
- Envisioning (1994)
- Joy (Within)! (1994)
- Radiation (1994)
- Armageddon (1995)
- Gift of Tongues (1995)
- Heat of the Light (Dream Sequences) (1996)
- Tibet (1996)
- Mindfulness (1997)
- The Distance Between Us (1999)
- Bouquet: Live at the Knitting Factory 4.23.99 (2000)
- Black Mask (2002)
- Out Trios, Vol. 1: Monsoon (2003)
- Yearn for Certainty - Trios with Sabir Mateen and Dave Soldier (2010)
- Heart of the Sun - Trios with Roy Campbell and Dave Soldier (2013)
- Red - William Hooker Quartet featuring Matt Lavell, Mark Hennen, Larry Roland and William Hooker (Atypeek Music 2015)
- Aria - featuring Dave Soldier, On Davis, Mark Hennan, Richard Keene, and Louie Belogenis (Multatta Records 2016)
- Pillars ... at the Portal (Multatta Records 2018)
- Symphonie of Flowers (ORG Music) (2019)
References
- Adams, Simon (2003), Hooker, William, Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, retrieved March 30, 2020
- Bush, Nathan. "William Hooker". AllMusic. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- Cantor, Dave (December 2019). "William Hooker: Symphonie of Flowers". Down Beat. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
External links
- William Hooker interview by Matt Silcock, Perfect Sound Forever, February 2000.
- The Trove interview by Sharon Pendana