Scott wrote:Hi Everyone,
Billy died on June 17.
He always spoke fondly of Lennie and Lennie's incredible playing and style. I had the honor to study with Billy for 7 years in the 1980's and early 1990's. A great teacher but tough and demanding -I sure learned a helluva lot!
A memorial service for Billy is planned in the Fall. I'll keep everyone updated.
Sincerely,
Scott
Very sorry to hear that. Most don't realize just how good Billy was. As good as ANY 20th c. "jazz" guitarists and a brilliant "sideman". How'd you like to be faced with finding yourself comping behind Lennie's playing on "Supersonic" and be able to come up with brilliant complimentary lines to Lennie's already harmonically contrapuntal yet linear excursions? Billy was a tremendous musician and a brilliant improvisionalist with his own unique voice, in his own right, just the same as Lennie, Warne, and Lee.