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Gary Willis

With a career spanning more than 45 years, Gary Willis has released 5 solo CD’s, 10 as co-leader of Tribal Tech and has been a part of a multitude of other projects including playing alongside Wayne Shorter, Allan Holdsworth, Hubert Laws and many others. His own works include legends Dennis Chambers, Steve Tavaglione, Bob Berg, Gergo Borlai, Kirk Covington and Scott Kinsey.

January 1, 2019 Ibanez announced the release of the 20th Anniversary Gary Willis signature model fretless bass (GWB20th). Featuring a “Tequila Sunrise” sunburst finish, the bass is constructed with an ash top, basswood body, a sunburst finished ramp and headstock as well as the unique Sure-grip tuners that have graced the Willis signature line since the beginning. Also new to this limited edition version of the GWB is the Aguilar DCB pickup and OBP-2 preamp. The bass has evolved over the years with subtle improvements and has expanded to offer three different models, the GWB35, GWB205 and the GWB1005. The GWB20th limited edition release was celebrated at the annual Bass Bash event (Jan. 25th, bassbash.com) during NAMM week in Anaheim, California.

2017 saw the year-long release of Groove A Day – the iOS play-along app that has Willis and the incredible Gergo Borlai performing a different groove for every day of the year. The interactive app allows you to select camera angles, customize the audio mix, loop specific sections and adjust the tempo. In total, over 12 hours of grooves and decades of experience are delivered into one app

His latest CD, “Larger Than Life”, morphed into a half-decade project that spanned 3 continents and 9 time zones. Celebrated as a “delicious collection of fusion-funk for the twenty-first century”. Larger Than Life’s 12 tracks feature Gergo Borlai on drums, long-time Tribal Tech band mate Scott Kinsey on keyboards, Steve Tavaglione on saxes and EWI, Claudia Bardagí on voice and Llibert Fortuny on tenor sax and voice.

With “Retro” (2013) Willis returned to his jazz roots with a trio featuring the incredible Gergo Borlai on drums and the acclaimed Catalan pianist Albert Bover on keyboards. A mix of vintage Jazz with the energetic twist that Willis always brings as well as a melodic side that has been seen in smaller doses throughout his career. 

2012 saw the release of “X” by the supergroup Tribal Tech that came to light after a 12 year hiatus. “X” documents the final trip of this prolific musical jazz fusion group known for its spirited arrangements and interactive improvisation. Getting the kind of synergies that materialize in a masterpiece like “X” is only possible when one has a rich musical history forged by virtuoso musicians.

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Radio & Podcasts

The '90s with John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Gary Willis and Chad Wackerman

Read "The '90s with John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Gary Willis and Chad Wackerman" reviewed by Len Davis


More from Chick Corea Elektrik Band, then a feature on '90s music with John McLaughlin from The Promise, Allan Holdsworth  Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, bassist Gary Willis No Sweat, Heavy Machinery with Anders Johansson and Chad Wackerman with Scream. Playlist Chick Corea Elektrik Band “Got A Match" from The Future Is Now (Candid) 00:00 John McLaughlin “Jazz Jungle" from The Promise (Verve) 10:26 Allan Holdsworth “Looking Glass" from Warsaw Summer Jazz Days (Manifesto) 20:48 Gary Willis “Stagger" from No Sweat (Alchemy) 31:08 ...

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Play This!

Gary Willis: Emancipation

Read "Gary Willis: Emancipation" reviewed by Mike Jacobs


From former Tribal Tech bassist Gary Willis' album Bent (Alchemy, 1998), this one was so frequently heard around the house when my kids were young, they ended up making up their own lyrics to it. Featuring Steve Tavaglione, Scott Kinsey and Dennis Chambers, it a short but oh-so-sweet album-closer that you really don't want to end. ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Funky Jazz Fusion with emphasis on the bass

Read "Funky Jazz Fusion with emphasis on the bass" reviewed by Len Davis


Funky jazz fusion from John Scofield, Oteil Burbridge, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Brian Bromberg and Gary Willis.Playlist John Scofield “Boogie Stupid" from Uberjam Deux (Emarcy) 00:00 Steve Smith-Oteil Burbridge “Pinkys Revenge" from The Strangers Hand (Tone Centre) 05:11 Brian Bromberg “Uh-Huh" from Thicker Than Water (Artistry Music) 10:30 George Duke “Fuzzion" from Night after Night (Electra) 15:53 Stanley Clarke “Play The Bass" from Time Exposure (Epic) 21:04 Marcus Miller “I'll Be There" from Renaissance (Dreyfus) 26:17 Stanley Clarke ...

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Album Review

Gergo Borlai: The Missing Song

Read "The Missing Song" reviewed by Jim Worsley


The Missing Song has been heralded as a tribute to Gergo Borlai's nine most influential drummers still alive and performing today. This is much more than just listing them and perhaps covering one of their songs. Borlai composed eight of the nine new songs on this album. He plays them all in the manner, or mindset, of each drummer. The thought process, and level of preparation was meticulous for every drummer and every song. The drum kit, cymbals, sticks, pedals, ...

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Interview

Gary Willis: Something to Say

Read "Gary Willis: Something to Say" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Sixteen years in Tribal Tech, the most innovative of post-Weather Report fusion bands, confirmed the status of Gary Willis as a modern-day bass icon. Picking up where Jaco Pastorius left off, Willis's explorations are stretching the possibilities of the fretless bass as a lead instrument, as evidenced on two 2007 releases, the storming Slaughterhouse 3 and his third solo album, Actual Fiction--a bass album unlike any other--both on Abstract Logix.In a revealing interview Willis lends insight into his ...

390
Album Review

Gary Willis: Actual Fiction

Read "Actual Fiction" reviewed by John Kelman


As co-founder, with guitarist Scott Henderson, of now-defunct fusion group Tribal Tech, bassist Gary Willis has never been averse to technology. By the time the group released its eponymous fourth album in 1991, there were times when it was nearly impossible to tell who was doing what. With the exception of drummers Kirk Covington (ex-Tribal Tech) and David Gomez on seven of its ten tracks, Willis goes it completely alone on Actual Fiction, an album of monster chops, penetrating grooves, ...

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Album Review

Gary Willis: Actual Fiction

Read "Actual Fiction" reviewed by Ian Patterson


One might be forgiven for thinking that bassist extraordinaire Gary Willis has the titles of the first two songs on Actual Fiction the wrong way round. “Cartoon Fetish is a slightly frantic drum 'n' bass rave with a Prodigy-like bullishness that would be ideal to rock a party and rattle your neighbors' windows. The wonderfully titled “Smells Like a Party is an irresistible piece of head-bobbing funk of the type Prince cooks up, and would make a great soundtrack for ...

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Education

Aguilar Amplification Announces Master Class with Gary Willis

Aguilar Amplification Announces Master Class with Gary Willis

Source: All About Jazz

Aguilar Amplification, maker of high-quality bass amplifiers, speaker cabinets and accessories for bassists is pleased to announce the continuation of their Artist Series Master Classes on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 with endorsing artist, Gary Willis. An in-demand clinician, Willis has lectured in over 20 countries and currently teaches improvisation and arranging at the prestigious Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya conservatory in Barcelona, Spain. His published works for Hal Leonard include Fingerboard Harmony for Bass, Ultimate Ear Training, and 101 ...

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Interview

Bassist Gary Willis Interviewed at AAJ

Bassist Gary Willis Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Sixteen years in Tribal Tech, the most innovative of post-Weather Report fusion bands, confirmed the status of Gary Willis as a modern-day bass icon. Picking up where Jaco Pastorius left off, Willis's explorations are stretching the possibilities of the fretless bass as a lead instrument, as evidenced on two 2007 releases, the storming Slaughterhouse 3 and his third solo album, Actual Fiction--a bass album unlike any other--both on Abstract Logix.

In a revealing interview Willis tells AAJ contributor Ian Patterson ...

125

Recording

Tribal Tech's Gary Willis, Kirk Covington and Libert Fortuny Releasing Slaughterhouse

Tribal Tech's  Gary Willis, Kirk Covington and Libert Fortuny Releasing Slaughterhouse

Source: Abstract Logix

Fiercely uncompromising with equal allegiance to jazzy improvisation, funky backbeats and sonic experimentation, the audacious power trio Slaughterhouse 3 dwells in a place where fellow renegades like Garage a Trois, Bobby Previte & Charlie Hunter's Groundtruther and jam band godfathers Medeski, Martin & Wood operate -- right on that cutting edge between Sun Ra-inspired extrapolation and James Brown-inspired groovepower. Anchored by the formidable rhythm tandem of drummer Kirk Covington and bassist Gary Willis (bandmates in Tribal Tech, one of the ...

Steven Husted
bass, acoustic
Marcos Milagres
bass, acoustic
Petros Dragoumis
bass, electric

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Missing Song

Blue Canoe Records
2020

buy

Shaman

Two for the Show Media
2009

buy

Actual Fiction

Abstract Logix
2007

buy

Slaughterhouse 3

Abstract Logix
2007

buy

Bent

Alchemy Records
1999

buy

Gary

From: The Missing Song
By Gary Willis

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