Pyrotechnic Big Band Sounds from Whit Williams' "Now's The Time" Big Band with Jimmy Heath and Slide Hampton.

It seems that every American city that has a thriving jazz scene is home to a legendary musician who would have been even more famous had he moved to New York, but for reasons of family considerations decided to remain in his hometown. Chicago has Von Freeman. Washington, DC is home to Buck Hill. Kidd Jordan still calls New Orleans home, although he has been displaced by Katrina. Mickey Fields of Baltimore also fits in this category. Whit Williams ranks with these musicians who deserve recognition beyond their home environs. Baltimore has been his stomping grounds for over fifty years, where he has performed with such renowned entertainers as Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughn, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, and Tony Bennett. Whit is one of the most sought after musicians in the Baltimore metropolitan area because of his versatility and musicianship. The release of “The Whit Williams’ Now's The Time Big Band” featuring Jimmy Heath and Slide Hampton“ is worthy of international renown. Certainly the performances of such luminaries as Slide Hampton and Jimmy Heath as guest artists should hip the jazz cognoscenti as to the high regard Whit is held among his peers.

Thomas "Whit" Williams was born in Macon, North Carolina and grew up in Raleigh. He joined the army in 1951 and served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War. After his discharge in 1954 he moved to Baltimore where he received his music education at Morgan State College. He also attended Eastman School of Music and Towson State University. He has spent a lifetime in music education, teaching in the Ann Arundel Public Schools for over thirty seven years. Even in "retirement" Whit has continued his focus on jazz education through his work with the Jazz Heritage Foundation of Baltimore, which has sponsored workshops for school aged children. Whit formed the Now's The Time Band in 1981. His wife Ethel suggested the name, inspired by a Charlie Parker composition recorded in 1945. (I was born on the day Bird recorded "Now's The Time," so I know well the inspiration Parker gives the band.) Whit intended to give younger Baltimore musicians the opportunity to perform in the classic big band tradition and to have the thrill of playing with such jazz legends as Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Jerome Richardson and Stanley Cowell. A real highlight for the band occurred in 1994 when it accompanied soul diva Aretha Franklin. The band also appeared with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the performance of Duke Ellington's "Night Creature Symphony" at the Myerhofff Hall.

Whit has also been very active as a solo artist, frequently working with some of the greatest jazz musicians still on the planet. In 2004 he performed with the quintet of the world famous Clark Terry and in 2006 joined jazz legends Hank Jones and Jimmy Heath in performance at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

The release of Now's The Time Big Band CD is a dream come true for Whit. The band is tight. Whit shows his versatility by soloing on his various reeds, his arrangements and his leadership of the band. Slide Hampton and Jimmy Heath demonstrate why they have been declared Jazz Masters by the National Endowment for the Arts. Check out Jimmy's solo on Kenny Dorham's composition "Una Mas" or Slide's on "The Radiator Man." Whit wrote "The Radiator Man" and it is a tribute to the great Baltimore vibraphonist James Wells who passed away before this recording. He was supposed to perform on this number. Slide Hampton plays the Jimmy Wells melody. Whit also wrote "Get Home Before Dark." The intro using the alto saxophone, bass and drums is a reminder of the free style of the 60s as it evolves into later developmental stages of jazz. About his composition "I Remember Tangle" Whit says,"It is a salute to one of the greatest people I've known seventy-five years as well as a fantastic trumpet player who also taught me the affirmation 'Divine Order.'" The recording is also blessed with the presence of Gary Thomas and Charlie Young. Charlie is featured on Jimmy Heath's "Without You No Me" which Jimmy dedicates to Dizzy Gillespie. Gary gets to demonstrate his chops on "A Day In Copenhagen" which also includes Slide interacting with all of the 'bones and a tasty drum solo by Harold Summey. Thelonious Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie" features Don Junker on trumpet.

I have only touched upon a few of the highlights of this long overdue recording by Whit Williams and his Now's The Time Band. All of the tunes on this album have that swinging, toe tapping quality that is at the core of Whit's musical philosophy. Now is indeed the time for Whit Williams! Enjoy the music of Whit Williams’ “Now's The Time Big Band” and do a little foot tapping while you're doing so.

-Rusty Hassan

Rusty Hassan has been broadcasting jazz on the Baltimore-Washington airwaves for over forty years. He can be heard on WPFW in Washington, DC. He teaches jazz history at the University of Maryland University College.

1. This Is What It Is (Jimmy Heath)
2. Una Mas (Kenny Dorham / arr. Jimmy Heath)
3. I Remember Tangle (Whit Williams / arr. Vince Norman)
4. Losing Game (Jimmy Heath)
5. Without You, No Me (Jimmy Heath)
6. The Radiator Man Is Well (Whit Williams / arr. Mat Belzer)
7. A Day In Copenhagen (Slide Hampton)
8. Diana (Slide Hampton)
9. Get Home Before Dark (Whit Williams / arr. Vince Norman)
10. Little Rootie Tootie (Thelonius Monk / arr. Slide Hampton)

Whit Williams’ “Now’s The Time” Big Band

Band Members

Trumpets:
Don Junker
Joe Palonzo
Michael Thomas
Eli Asher

Trombones:
Jay Gibble
Richard Ore
Bill Holmes
Bernie Robier –Bass Trombone

Saxes:
Jimmy Battallata-Alto Saxophone
Jimmy Kearns - Alto Saxophone
Howard Burns – Tenor Saxophone
Gary Thomas – Flute/Tenor Saxophone
Steve Swann – Baritone Saxophone
Russel Kirk - Alto Saxophone

Piano:
Charlie Etsel

Bass:
Earnest Barnes

Drums:
Harold Summey

Special Guest:
Slide Hampton - Trombone
Jimmy Heath – Tenor Saxophone
Gary Thomas- Flute/Tenor Saxophone
Charlie Young – Alto Saxophone

Produced by:
Whit Williams
Eli Asher
Jay Gibble

Cover Photo: Michael Thomas
Package Design: DandyDan
Recording Engineer: Bob Dawson
Recorded September 28 – 30, 2004 at Bias Studios, Springfield, Virginia.

BACK:

Whit Williams’ “Now’s The Time Big Band”
Featuring Jimmy Heath & Slide Hampton

An extremely well-done big band recording from a ‘gifted’ leader, Whit Williams and his incredibly ‘tight’ and powerful “Now’s The Time Big Band”…superb!

1. This Is What It Is (Jimmy Heath)
2. Una Mas (Kenny Dorham / arr. Jimmy Heath)
3. I Remember Tangle (Whit Williams / arr. Vince Norman)
4. Losing Game (Jimmy Heath)
5. Without You, No Me (Jimmy Heath)
6. The Radiator Man Is Well (Whit Williams / arr. Mat Belzer)
7. A Day In Copenhagen (Slide Hampton)
8. Diana (Slide Hampton)
9. Get Home Before Dark (Whit Williams / arr. Vince Norman)
10. Little Rootie Tootie (Thelonius Monk / arr. Slide Hampton)