Mars Williams
Elastic
When Mars Williams dove into his vault to excavate several recordings for a Mars Archive series on Corbett vs. Dempsey, he immediately landed on a concert date from a decade earlier. The event, recorded at Chicago's Elastic Arts Foundation in 2012, featured a trio with Williams on reed instruments, Darin Gray on bass, and Chris Corsano on drums. This configuration had already been highly enough estimated by Williams that he'd posted one set on Bandcamp, but he saved the other set for future rele…
I know You Are But What Am I?
At the tail end of 1996, saxophonist Mars Williams and drummer Hamid Drake took the tall corner stage at Chicago's Empty Bottle for two sets of duets. The rock club had just started a weekly Jazz & Improvised Music Series, curated by Ken Vandemark and John Corbett, which would run for nearly a decade. This rare pairing brought together two pivotal figures in the city's creative music scene, both of whom had extensive experience in diverse areas of music, from the free jazz focus of this intimate…
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is the second album from the unique duo of Chicago reedist Mars Williams and percussionist Vasco Trilla, following his album SPIRACLE which received excellent reviews in the international press. In his second album the duo use their technical skills to pivot reflective and meditative playing around exuberant free jazz spirit, maintaining a sense of journey and sonic introspection through unusual and extended techniques; a beautifully balanced music experience.
Spiracle
** 2021 Stock ** A truly unique duo album of sax and drums from Chicago reedist Mars Williams and Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla, using their immense technical skills to pivot reflective and meditative playing around exuberant free jazz spirit, maintaining a sense of journey and sonic introspection through unusual and extended technique; a beautifully balanced album. "Both American reedman Mars Williams and Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla show themselves well grounded in the duet configur…
An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4: Chicago vs. NYC
Split release with Williams' own Soul What Records. Yet another yearly installment of "An Ayler Xmas" just in time to cheer us up post election. This is the first time that there will be a vinyl version of Ayler Xmas jams!! The vinyl version contains only tracks 3 & 6 which are the same medley but done in entirely different styles by the Chicago and NYC groups respectively. however, the vinyl version does come with a digital download of the entire album.
Thinking out loud
Boneshaker are Mars Williams (reeds, toy instruments), Paal Nilssen-Love (drums & percussion) and Kent Kessler (bass), three prolific powerhouse musicians, carrying among them a Grammy nomination and decades of experience with the top ensembles in the world. Thinking Out Loud is their third album. Personnel: Mars Williams - reeds; Paal Nilssen-Love - drums; Kent Kessler - bass.
Made in Norway
Classic double live album from this free-spirited international trio, this time expanded with American sax player Mars Williams. Recorded live at Oslo's Café Mono and at the Nattjazz festival in Bergen, both in May 2011, this fully shows why new drummer Frank Rosaly can be considered the perfect partner to founders Raoul Björkenheim (guitar) and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass), not to mention Williams, who fit in perfectly with only a minimum of rehearsals before these concerts. The interplay is …
Boneshaker
"Boneshaker are Mars Williams (reeds, toy instruments), Paal Nilssen-Love (drums & percussion) and Kent Kessler (bass), three prolific powerhouse musicians, carrying among them a Grammy nomination and decades of experience with the top ensembles in the world.Norwegian phenomenon Paal Nilssen-Love has established himself over the last decade as one of the most important voices in improvised music from his generation. A powerful drummer of unbounded energy, he shows an ongoing ability to br…