William Hooker | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 18, 1946 New Britain, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, free jazz |
| Instruments | Drums |
William Hooker (born June 18, 1946) is an American drummer and composer.
William Hooker | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 18, 1946 New Britain, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, free jazz |
| Instruments | Drums |
William Hooker (born June 18, 1946) is an American drummer and composer.
Hooker was born in New Britain, Connecticut, on June 18, 1946. [1] He began to play the drums at the age of 12. [1] In high school, he played in a rock band, then switched to jazz. [1] After graduating from Central Connecticut College, Hooker moved to California and became interested in free jazz. [1]
Hooker moved to New York City in the mid-1970s and was part of the loft jazz scene, playing with musicians such as saxophonists David Murray and David S. Ware. [1] His first recording as a leader was in 1976. [1] His music was too radical to be commercially successful, and Hooker took other jobs to earn a living. [1] This changed after he received praise for a 1988 recording, and he made frequent appearances at the Knitting Factory from early the following decade. [1] Hooker was a founding member of the Text of Light, a musician's collective that released seven albums between 2004 and 2010. [2]
Hooker has led several bands, including a drums–trumpet–saxophone trio and an organ trio. [1] They usually do not feature a bass, "because of the intensity and volume of his drumming". [1] He has also been the drummer in duos with guitarists, including Elliott Sharp and Thurston Moore. [1] Hooker's playing and recordings have embraced a wide range and combination of musics, including free jazz, noise rock, electronics, contemporary classical, and experimental electronic. [2]
The Down Beat reviewer of Hooker's Symphonie Of Flowers album wrote "Hooker uses history to enliven a suite of music that bounds through subgenres and percussive ideas". [3]
"He is an elemental drummer of considerable force, equally at home in free-form jazz and avant-garde rock circles; he also experiments with electronics and turntables". [1]
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