Billy Hart

William "Billy" Hart (born November 29, 1940 in Washington, D.C.) is a jazz drummer and educator who has performed with some of the most important jazz musicians in history.

Biography
Early on Hart performed in Washington, D.C. with soul artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave, and then later with Buck Hill and Shirley Horn, and was a sideman with the Montgomery Brothers (1961), Jimmy Smith (1964–1966), and Wes Montgomery (1966–1968). Following Montgomery’s death in 1968, Hart moved to New York, where he recorded with McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Zawinul, and played with Eddie Harris, Pharoah Sanders, and Marian McPartland.

Hart was a member of Herbie Hancock's sextet (1969–1973), and played with McCoy Tyner (1973–1974), Stan Getz (1974–1977), and Quest (1980s), in addition to extensive freelance playing (including recording with Miles Davis on 1972's On the Corner).

At age 70, Billy Hart works steadily and teaches widely. Since the early 1990s Hart spends considerable time at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and is adjunct faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music and Western Michigan University. He also conducts private lessons through The New School and New York University. Hart often contributes to the Stokes Forest Music Camp and the Dworp Summer Jazz Clinic in Belgium.

He leads a group with Mark Turner, Ethan Iverson, and Ben Street. He also is featured in a trio led by pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and one led by guitarist Assaf Kehati.

Hart resides in Montclair, New Jersey.

As leader

 * 1977: Enchance (Horizon) with Michael Carvin, Eddie Henderson, Dave Holland, Oliver Lake, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Don Pullen, Dewey Redman, Buster Williams
 * 1985: Oshumare (Gramavision) with Manolo Badrena, Steve Coleman, Kevin Eubanks, Bill Frisell, Mark Gray, Dave Holland, Kenny Kirkland, Didier Lockwood, Branford Marsalis
 * 1987: Rah (Gramavision) with Kevin Eubanks, Bill Frisell, Eddie Gómez, Mark Grey, Eddie Henderson, Kenny Kirkland, Dave Liebman, Ralph Moore, Caris Visentin
 * 1989: Take It Easy with Klaus Ignatzek, Ron McClure
 * 1992: Firebird with Tom Knific, Trent Kynaston, Steve Zegree
 * 1993: Amethyst (Arabesque) with Marc Copland, Santi Debriano, Mark Feldman, David Fiuczynski, Dave Kikoski, John Stubblefield
 * 1997: Oceans of Time (Arabesque) with Santi Debriano, Mark Feldman, David Fiuczynski, Dave Kikoski, Chris Potter, John Stubblefield
 * 2006: Quartet (HighNote) with Ethan Iverson, Ben Street, Mark Turner
 * 2006: Route F (Enja)
 * 2009: Live at the Cafe Damberd (Enja)
 * 2012: All Our Reasons (ECM) with Mark Turner, Ethan Iverson, Ben Street

Collaborations
With Quest
 * 1978: With Walter Bishop, Jr., George Mraz – The Trio (Progressive, issued 1982)
 * 1979: Clark Terry / Johnny Hartman / Oscar Peterson / Victor Sproles / Billy Hart / Chris Woods – Ain't Misbehavin' (Pablo)
 * 1983: Stanley Cowell / Billy Harper / Reggie Workman / Billy Hart – Such Great Friends (Strata-East, issued in 1991)
 * 1987: Tal Farlow / John Abercrombie / Larry Carlton / Larry Coryell / John Scofield / John Patitucci & Billy Hart – All Strings Attached (Verve)
 * 1993: Santi Debriano / Billy Hart / Arthur Blythe – 3-Ology (Konnex)
 * 1994: David Liebman / Cecil McBee / Billy Hart – The Seasons (Soul Note)
 * 1994: Jerry Bergonzi / Mike Stern / Andy LaVerne / George Mraz / Billy Hart – Vertical Reality (Musidisc)
 * 1999: Doug Raney / Joey DeFrancesco / Billy Hart – The Backbeat (SteepleChase)
 * 2005: Mark O'Leary / Tomasz Stanko / Billy Hart – Levitation (Leo)
 * 2007: David Liebman / Richie Beirach / Ron McClure / Billy Hart – Redemption (hatOLOGY)
 * II (Storyville, 1987)
 * Midpoint - Quest III Live at the Montmartre Copenhagen Denmark (Storyville, 1987)
 * N.Y. Nites - Standards (PAN Music, 1988)
 * Natural Selection (Pathfinder/Core, 1988)
 * Of One Mind (CMP, 1990)
 * Re-Dial (Live in Hamburg) (Outnote, 2007)
 * Circular Dreaming (Enja, 2011)

As sideman
With Hamiet Bluiett With Catalyst With Miles Davis With Charles Earland With Sonny Fortune With Chico Freeman With Stan Getz With Dick Griffin With Herbie Hancock With Eddie Harris With Eddie Henderson With the Jazztet With Lee Konitz With Joe Lovano With Bennie Maupin With Cecil McBee With Mingus Dinasty With Wes Montgomery With James Mtume With James Newton With Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen With Hannibal Marvin Peterson With Pharoah Sanders With Wayne Shorter With Jimmy Smith With Charles Sullivan With McCoy Tyner With Tom Varner With Buster Williams With Joe Zawinul
 * Resolution (Black Saint, 1978)
 * Dangerously Suite (Soul Note, 1981)
 * Perception (Muse, 1973)
 * Unity (Muse, 1974)
 * On the Corner (Columbia, 1972)
 * Big Fun (Columbia, 1974) (material from On the Corner sessions)
 * Tutu (Warner Bros., 1986)
 * The Dynamite Brothers (O.S.T.) (Prestige, 1973)
 * Awakening (Horizon, 1975)
 * It Ain't What It Was (Konnex, 1992)
 * Spirit Sensitive (India Navigation, 1979)
 * Peaceful Heart, Gentle Spirit (Contemporary, 1980)
 * Tradition in Transition (Elektra Musician, 1982)
 * The Search (India Navigation, 1983)
 * Chico Freeman featuring Bobby McFerrin – Tangents (Elektra Musician, 1984)
 * McCoy Tyner Quintet / Stan Getz Quartet – Jazz Jamboree 74, Vol. 2 (Muza, 1975)
 * Various – Standard School Broadcast "Music Makers": Woodwinds & Reeds (Chevron, 1975)
 * Stan Getz featuring João Gilberto – The Best of Two Worlds (Columbia, 1976)
 * Stan Getz Quartet feat. Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – Live At Montmartre (SteepleChase, 1977)
 * Stan Getz, Philippe Sarde – Mort d'un pourri (O.S.T.) (Melba, 1977)
 * Another World (Columbia, 1978)
 * The Stan Getz Quartet – Pure Getz (Concord Jazz, 1982)
 * The Master (Columbia, 1982)
 * Blue Skies (Concord Jazz, 1982, issued in 1995)
 * Now Is the Time (Trident, 1979)
 * The Eighth Wonder & More (Konnex, 1994)
 * Mwandishi (Warner Bros., 1971)
 * Crossings (Warner Bros., 1972)
 * Sextant (Columbia, 1973)
 * V.S.O.P. (Columbia, 1977)
 * Pourquoi l'Amérique (O.S.T.) (AZ, 1968)
 * Silver Cycles (Atlantic, 1968)
 * High Voltage (Atlantic, 1969)
 * Free Speech (Atlantic, 1969)
 * Realization (Capricorn, 1973)
 * Inside Out (Capricorn, 1974)
 * Sunburst (Blue Note, 1975)
 * Heritage (Blue Note, 1976)
 * Nostalgia (Baystate, 1983)
 * Lee Konitz Nonet – Yes, Yes, Nonet (SteepleChase, 1979)
 * Lee Konitz Nonet – Live at Laren (Soul Note, 1979, issued in 1984)
 * Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note, 1994)
 * The Jewel in the Lotus (ECM, 1974)
 * Mutima (Strata-East, 1974)
 * Flying Out (India Navigation, 1982)
 * Live At the Theatre Boulogne-Billancourt Paris (Soul Note, 1989)
 * Live at Jorgies Jazz Club (VGM, 1961, issued later)
 * Live at Jorgies Jazz Club and More (VGM, 1961, 1968, issued later)
 * Mtume Umoja Ensemble – Alkebu-Lan - Land of the Blacks (Live at The East) (Strata-East, 1972)
 * Rebirth Cycle (Third Street, 1974, issued in 1977)
 * James Newton (Gramavision, 1983)
 * Luella (Gramavision, 1984)
 * The African Flower - The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn (Blue Note, 1985)
 * Trio 1 (SteepleChase, 1978)
 * Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Quartet – Dancing on the Tables (SteepleChase, 1979)
 * Hannibal Marvin Peterson, The Sunrise Orchestra – Children of the Fire (Sunrise, 1974)
 * Naima (Eastworld, 1978)
 * Karma (Impulse!, 1969)
 * Izipho Zam (Strata-East, 1969, issued in 1973)
 * Black Unity (Impulse!, 1972)
 * Live at The East (Impulse!, 1972)
 * Odyssey of Iska (Blue Note, 1971)
 * Christmas Cookin' (Verve, 1964)
 * The Amazing Jimmy Smith Trio Live at the Village Gate (Metro, 1965)
 * Live in Concert - The Incredible Jimmy Smith (Metro, 1965)
 * La métamorphose des cloportes (O.S.T.) (Verve, 1965)
 * Genesis (Strata-East, 1974)
 * Re-Entry (Whynot, 1976)
 * Asante (Blue Note, 1970, issued in 1974)
 * Sama Layuca (Milestone, 1974)
 * Tom Varner Quartet (Soul Note, 1980)
 * Motion/Stillness (Soul Note, 1983)
 * Pinnacle (Muse, 1975)
 * Crystal Reflections (Muse, 1976)
 * Heartbeat (Muse, 1979)
 * Dreams Come True (Buddha, 1980)
 * Zawinul (Atlantic, 1971)

With others
 * Buck Clarke – The Buck Clarke Sound (Argo, 1963)
 * The Paul Jeffrey Quintet – Electrifying Sounds of the Paul Jeffrey Quintet (Savoy, 1968)
 * Melvin Jackson – Funky Skull (Limelight, 1969)
 * Marian McPartland – Ambiance (Halcyon, 1970)
 * Harold Land – A New Shade of Blue (Mainstream, 1971, reissued as Damisi, 1992)
 * Buddy Terry – Pure Dynamite (Mainstream, 1972)
 * Norman Connors – Dance of Magic (Cobblestone, 1972)
 * Pete Yellin – Dance of Allegra (Mainstream, 1972)
 * Marc Levin Ensemble – Songs Dances and Prayers (Sweet Dragon, 1973)
 * Azar Lawrence – Bridge into the New Age (Prestige, 1974)
 * Carlos Garnett – Black Love (Muse, 1974)
 * Charles Earland – The Dynamite Brothers (Prestige, 1974)
 * Harold Vick – Don't Look Back (Strata-East, 1974)
 * Bob Moses – Bittersuite in the Ozone (Mozown, 1975)
 * Michel Sardaby – Gail (Disques Debs, 1975)
 * Billy Harper – Soran-Bushi, B.H. (Denon, 1977, issued in 1981)
 * Black Renaissance – Black Renaissance (Baystate, 1977)
 * Dave McKenna / The Wilbur Little Quartet – Oil & Vinegar (Honeydew, 1977)
 * Eddie Jefferson – The Main Man (Inner City, 1977)
 * John Spider Martin – Absolutely (Improv, 1977)
 * John Stowell – Golden Delicious (Inner City, 1977)
 * Zbigniew Seifert – Man of the Light (MPS, 1977)
 * Joanne Brackeen – Tring-a-Ling (Choice, 1978)
 * Kenny Barron – Innocence (Wolf, 1978)
 * Robert Watson – Estimated Time of Arrival (Roulette, 1978)
 * Walter Bishop, Jr. – Cubicle (Muse, 1978)
 * Richard Davis – Harvest (Muse, 1979)
 * Mack Goldsbury – Anthropo-Logic (Muse, 1979)
 * Glen Hall – The Book of the Heart (Sonora, 1979)
 * Jim McNeely – The Plot Thickens (Gatemouth, 1979)
 * John McNeil Quintet – Faun (SteepleChase, 1979)
 * John McNeil & Tom Harrell – Look to the Sky (SteepleChase, 1979)
 * Cam Newton – The Motive Behind the Smile (Inner City, 1979)
 * Jimmy Raney & Doug Raney – Stolen Moments (SteepleChase, 1979)
 * Jimmy Rowles - Paws That Refresh (Choice, 1979)
 * John Scofield – Who's Who? (Arista, 1979)
 * Louis Smith Quintet – Prancin' (SteepleChase, 1979)
 * Joe Temperley & Jimmy Knepper – Just Friends (Hep, 1979)
 * Pierre Dørge Quartet – Ballad Round the Left Corner (SteepleChase, 1980)
 * Mickey Tucker – The Crawl (Muse, 1980)
 * Dave Schnitter – Glowing (Muse, 1981)
 * Doug Raney Quartet – Listen (SteepleChase, 1981)
 * Joachim Kühn – Nightline New York (Sandra Music Productions, 1981)
 * Mingus Dynasty – Live at Montreux (Atlantic, 1981)
 * Pepper Adams – Urban Dreams (Palo Alto Jazz, 1981)
 * Terumasa Hino – Double Rainbow (CBS/Sony, 1981)
 * Arnie Lawrence – Renewal (Palo Alto Jazz, 1982)
 * Art Farmer Quartet – A Work of Art (Concord Jazz, 1982)
 * Jay Hoggard – Mystic Winds, Tropic Breezes (India Navigation, 1982)
 * Kip Hanranhan – Conjure - Music for the Texts of Ishmael Reed (American Clavé, 1984)
 * Jimmy Knepper Sextet – I Dream Too Much (Soul Note, 1984)
 * Larry Coryell – Comin' Home (Muse, 1984)
 * Big Nick Nicholas – Big Nick (India Navigation, 1985)
 * Didier Lockwood – Out of the Blue (Gramavision, 1985)
 * Johnny Dyani Quartet – Angolian Cry (SteepleChase, 1985)
 * Shirley Horn Trio – Violets for Your Furs (SteepleChase, 1986, issued in 1991)
 * Khan Jamal – Thinking of You (Storyville, 1987)
 * Duke Jordan Trio – Time on My Hands (Steeplechase, 1988)
 * John Handy – Excursion in Blue (Quartet, 1988)
 * Tom Harrell – Stories (Contemporary, 1988, reissued as Visions, 1991)
 * Gary Bartz Quartet – Monsoon (SteepleChase, 1988)
 * Paul Bley Trio – The Nearness of You (SteepleChase, 1989)
 * Lars Møller Quartet – Pyramid (Stunt, 1990)
 * Shirley Horn – You Won't Forget Me (Verve, 1991)
 * Charles Lloyd – The Call (ECM, 1993)
 * Grover Washington, Jr. – All My Tomorrows (Columbia, 1994)
 * Shirley Horn – The Main Ingredient (Verve, 1995)
 * Cæcilie Norby – Cæcilie Norby (Blue Note, 1995)
 * Chris Potter – Moving In (Concord, 1996)
 * Jon Jang Sextet – Two Flowers on a Stem (Soul Note, 1996)
 * Jean-Michel Pilc – True Story (Dreyfus 2010)
 * Tied & Tickled Trio – La Place Demon (Morr Music, 2011)
 * Odean Pope - Odean's Three (In+Out, 2012)