Larry Willis

Larry Willis (born Lawrence Elliott Willis, December 20, 1942, New York City, United States) is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde

After his first year studying music theory at the Manhattan School of Music he began performing regularly with Jackie McLean. After he graduated he made his first jazz recording, McLean's Right Now!, which featured two of Willis' compositions. His first recording of any type, however, was as a singer with the Music and Arts Chorale Ensemble, performing an opera by Aaron Copland under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He decided to concentrate on jazz because of the difficulties African American musicians had in finding work in concert music. He is still recording and touring around the world.

Throughout his career he has performed with a wide range of musicians, including a stint of seven years as keyboardist for Blood, Sweat & Tears (beginning in 1972). He spent several years as pianist for Nat Adderley, as well as Roy Hargrove. His latest recording with Paul Murphy, Exposé, demonstrated the fusion principals of bebop and avant-garde jazz. His composition "Sanctuary" began exploring works employing strings. After a successful performance in Frank Lloyd Wright's Annie Pfieffer Chapel at Florida Southern College's "Child of the Sun" Jazz Festival he was commissioned to write a full scale orchestral work for jazz trio and orchestra. He received the Don Redman award in 2011, and the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award at Howard University in 2012.

As leader

 * A New Kind of Soul, 1970
 * Inner Crisis, 1973 (Groove Merchant)
 * My Funny Valentine, 1988
 * Just in Time, 1989
 * Solo Spirit, 1992
 * Steal Away, 1992 (Sledgehammer Blues)
 * Tribute to Someone, 1993 (Sledgehammer Blues)
 * Heavy Blue, 1994
 * How Do You Keep the Music Playing, 1994
 * Let's Play, 1994
 * Unforgettable, 1995
 * Serenade, 1995
 * If Trees Could Talk with Hamiet Bluiett, 1999
 * Every Rung Goes Higher, 2001
 * Sunshower with Kash Killion, Steve Novosel, Paul Murphy, Steve Berrios, 2001
 * Sanctuary with Joe Ford, Ray Codrington, Steve Novosel, Steve Berrios, Artie Sherman and the Rick Schmidt Strings, 2003
 * The Powers of Two 1+2 with Paul Murphy, 2004 und 2006
 * The Big Push, 2006

As sideman
With Jackie McLean With Carmen McRae With Lee Morgan With Alphonse Mouzon With Blood, Sweat, and Tears
 * Right Now! (1965)
 * Jacknife (1965)
 * Carmen Sings Monk (1988)
 * Infinity (1965)
 * The Essence of Mystery (1972)
 * New Blood (1972)