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BILLY BANG
Jazz / Experimental / Roots Music

BILLY BANG - Violinist



New York
United States

Profile Views:  31281




Last Login:  7/16/2009
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   BILLY BANG: General Info
Member Since1/25/2007
Band Websitehttp://www.justin-time.com/authors/billybang/
Band Members



http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=632771045/
InfluencesStuff Smith - Ornette Coleman - Classical Music

Sounds Like
BILLY BANG AlBUMS

Name/Label/Date

Above and Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Live) - Justin Time Records - 2007
Hip Hop Be Bop - ITM,
Vietnam: Reflections - Justin Time, 2005
Vietnam: The Aftermath - Justin Time, 2001
Big Bang Theory - Justin Time, 2000
Forbidden Planet - Masterplan, 2000
Commandment (For the Sculpture of Alain Kirili) - No More, 1997
Bang On! - Justin Time, 1997
Spirits Gathering - CIMP, 1997
Tribute to Stuff Smith - Soul Note, 1996
Valve, No. 10 - Soul Note, 1992
Live at Carlos 1 - Soul Note, 1988
The Fire From Within - Soul Note, 1986
Invitation - Soul Note, 1984
Bangception, Willisau [live] 1982 Hat Musics, 1982
Outline, No. 12 - Celluloid, 1982
Rainbow Gladiator - Soul Note, 1982
Live at Green Space - Amina, 1981
Changing Seasons - Bellows, 1981
Sweet Space Anima, 1980
Distinction without a Difference - hatHUT, 1979
New York Collage - Anima, 1979

Available at Amazon





Record Labelhttp://www.justin-time.com/authors/billybang/
Type of LabelIndie


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BILLY BANG's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Billy Bang and Yusef Komunyakaa at Harlem Stage  (view more)

Billy Bang and Yusef Komunyakaa to Collaborate in 'Sacrifice' at Harlem Stag  (view more)

Billy Bang with Trouble-"Prayer for Peace"  (view more)

Billy Bang: Vietnam vet plays his own song  (view more)

Billy Bang and Paul Rucker among fall jazz highlights  (view more)

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   About BILLY BANG


Kahil El Zabar Ritual trio feat: Billy Bang

( Camera: L.Giorgi )

Billy Bang The violin is hardly the first instrument that comes to mind when you think about jazz, but that's never daunted Billy Bang, one of the instrument's most adventurous exponents. Over the past 26 years Bang's hard-edged tone, soulful sense of traditional swing and evocatively expressive style has enhanced over two dozen albums by top names in a variety of genres, from the blistering funk of Bootsy Collins and the harmolodic groove of Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society to the intergalactic uproar of Sun Ra. With more than 15 albums under his own leadership, nearly a dozen more in co-led endeavors, and five more with the String Trio of New York (which he co-founded in 1977 with guitarist James Emery and bassist John Lindberg), Billy Bang is one of the more prolific and original members of the progressive scene. Born William Vincent Walker in Mobile, Alabama in 1947, his family moved to New York City's Harlem while he was still an infant. In junior high school he was nicknamed Billy Bang after a cartoon character, and over his initial protests, it stuck. Around the same time, his primary interest turned to music, and he took up the violin, switching to percussion in the early '60s when he became captivated by Afro-Cuban rhythms. While attending a Massachusetts prep school under full scholarship, he met and began playing with fellow-student, folk-singer Arlo Guthrie. Drafted into the army following graduation, Bang was sent to Vietnam, an experience that profoundly affected his life, often quite painfully. Returning home and radicalized, Billy became active in the anti-war movement, and by the late '60s had returned to music. Heavily inspired by the exploratory fire of John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman and the liberating energy of the free-jazz movement, Bang returned to the violin as his principal means of expression. Attending New York's Queens College, and studying privately with renowned violinist Leroy Jenkins, Bang became a key member of the dynamic New York avant-garde scene of the '70s. Forming his own group, The Survival Ensemble, and working with artists like David Murray, Frank Lowe, William Parker and the legendary Sam Rivers, Billy began to reach an international audience in 1977 with the String Trio, remaining with the cooperative ensemble for nine years. During these same years he continued to tour and record with his own ensembles, as well as genre-busting ensembles like The Decoding Society and Bill Laswell's Material (alongside guitar giant Sonny Sharrock). He even briefly led his own funk-oriented band, Forbidden Planet, and in 1981 taught at the University of Nebraska. He continued to work and collaborate with notables like Murray, Don Cherry and James 'Blood ' Ulmer, and in 1982 began a ten-year association with the incomparable Sun Ra, concluding with a 1992 quartet recording for Soul Note, "A Tribute to Stuff Smith," dedicated to the father of the jazz violin. In 1990, Bang formed the Solomonic Quartet with trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah, and continued to freelance and lead his own groups. Relocating to Berlin in 1996 where he lived until 2000, Bang criss-crossed the Atlantic frequently, performing all over Europe and doing five tours through the South and Midwest with percussionist Abbey Rader, three of which included tenorman Frank Lowe. He also began a regular working relationship with percussionist Kahil El'Zabar in 1996, performing in duet, and sometimes as a trio with esteemed Art Ensemble of Chicago co-founder and bassist Malachi Favors Maghostut. Currently, Bang records for Canada's Justin Time Records, for which he recorded "Bang On" in 1997 and "The Big Bang Theory" in 1999. His latest CD (released in October 2001) entitled "Vietnam: The Aftermath" evokes and confronts the memories of his Vietnam experiences and showcases the fine compositional skills that have always marked his own recordings. Returning to New York in 2000, Bang has continued his busy schedule, touring Europe in the Fall of 2001 with David Murray, continuing a musical interaction that has lasted over 25 years with a series of concerts and a collaborative dance work in Birmingham, England. He also tours Europe in November 2001 and the U.S. in January 2002 in duet with El'Zabar; and performs in England with the fusion ensemble Sonicphonics, with whom he's worked since 1998. A dazzling improviser, excellent composer, and provocative leader, Billy Bang remains on the cutting-edge of jazz expression..


Billy For details on Billy Bangs music please contact the record label link


Reg bookings please leave a message ..

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   BILLY BANG's Friend Space (Top 40)
BILLY BANG has 3059 friends.
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BILLY BANG's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 562 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Fatima Hajji





Jul 5 2009 9:40 PM

Hola amig@s;





Saludos :-)
Lyn





Jun 23 2009 10:30 PM

I was honored to present Billy with the Strings Player of the Year Award given by the Jazz Journalists Association on June 16, 2009.
Festival Megaphone





Jun 23 2009 8:44 AM

FESTIVAL MEGAPHONE / J - 4 !!!


..


Grand Concours Mégaphone : 1 place à gagner pour le concert de votre choix aux 2 premiers qui donneront la bonne réponse à la question suivante :


Dans le film One + One de J.L. Godard (projeté le lundi 29 juin dans le cadre de la soirée Mégaphone 69), on peut voir les Rolling Stones enregistrer l'un de leurs morceaux mythiques : quel est son titre ?


Pour répondre, envoyez un mail à l'adresse : public@festivalmegaphone.com


Toute la programmation du festival sur le www.festivalmegaphone.com
yoyo





Jun 20 2009 9:55 AM

Thanks for being friends :)
Hope you like our old school Soul Music.
Have a wonderful weekend!
The Curly Fairy (Anna)





Jun 15 2009 1:31 AM

New track available!
Photobucket
 
A vintage recording of a musical hit!
 
Don’t lose the chance to hear it NOW!!
 
There’s a fine, FINE LINE..
You are so me





Jun 14 2009 7:27 AM

yeah!
peace from germany.
Charles Xavier





Jun 10 2009 7:39 PM

Thanks for the friendship

My buddy John Lindberg mentioned you play together. I like your songs I hear on the radio station at KCSM.

We’re a new label from the San Francisco CA. bay area named Happy Note Records & we just wanted to say hi to the myspace community.
Here’s a video from our live performance at AHA nights August 2008 featuring saxophonist Rick Britto.


…..turn up the sound to the max for Hollywood & Heaven and eat away.
Celebrity Café…..

……insatiably groovy
Lucid Forge………

….. OH YEAH BABY YOU ARE TOTALLY IN MY ORANGE XYLOPHONE TOTIN’ FANTASIES!!!!
CD Review……

Peace, Love & Happy Note
www.happynoterecords.com
T-LoveSongz





Jun 9 2009 8:13 AM


Bruce Ulanet





Jun 8 2009 6:04 PM

Frédéric Paul Lallet





Jun 8 2009 11:48 AM

My Dear Friend,
Thanks for sharing your creative vibrations!

Cheers,
FPLallet
Fatima Hajji





Jun 6 2009 4:59 PM

Hola amig@s;

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Saludos
William Goffigan - Professional Percussionist





Jun 3 2009 4:24 PM


archimusic





Jun 3 2009 9:49 AM

Quand un quatuor classique s'enflamme sur un rythme à 5 temps, porté par un quartet de jazz et des tambours de l'Afrique et des Antilles, notre sale histoire commune liée par les chaînes de l'esclavage s'écrase devant l'évidence que l'humanité respire et gronde dans l'altérité.

"Esclavage" - Jean-Richard CODJIA - Adaptation Nicolas GENEST, Ensemble ARCHIMUSIC
Archimusic@JazzSousLesPommiers2009 #5


"Tchebele" - Philippe GOUYER MONTOUT - Adaptation Jean-Rémy GUEDON, Ensemble ARCHIMUSIC
Archimusic@JazzSousLesPommiers2009 #3

TRUTH ON THE TABLE project / NEW ALBUM out ON WAX





May 30 2009 12:40 PM

...peeace,what..s good on ur end?
I upped a snippet of the new album sampler plus some new beatz...leave some feedback when u have a second...be blessed,stay positive!!!

s
v
c
Denis Fournier





May 25 2009 6:32 AM

thank you ! for your music , pour l'art ,et votre sincerite
amicalement denis
Music for Mother and Child





May 24 2009 10:27 AM

Dear Billy Bang,

Thank you for your friendship!

Tales of the Ocean small

Greetings,
www.musicformotherandchild.com
RYR





May 23 2009 4:35 PM

Warren Smith





May 23 2009 4:26 PM

Photobucket

CAOS Musique





May 22 2009 2:07 PM

thanks for adding
CAOS Musique.
Ciao
Thompkins Marketing LLC





May 22 2009 12:35 PM

Jazz à Part





May 21 2009 2:10 PM

Bob King





May 19 2009 2:41 PM

Hey Billy... check me out on you tube. Just punch in bobkingpiano. I hope you enjoy. Bob
Grace Trabucchi





May 18 2009 4:45 PM

Just wanted to stop by and say Hi. Wishing you a great week ahead :)

Not sure if you have had time but hope you have enjoyed my new LIVE tracks x

Take care,

Grace
Crystina Maez





May 16 2009 11:12 AM

Hi, I've uploaded a new song "My compromise". Enjoy it!
green bracelet





May 15 2009 3:01 PM

Hi,
just wanted to let you know we are excited that
our songs are now on I-Tunes, Rhapsody,E-Music,
Amazon, and Napster for .99 cent downloads.
Much love to you,
and thanks for listening and hanging with us
on myspace!
anne-marie and
green bracelet
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