Review by Thom Jurek
Inner Crisis by Larry Willis is one of the very finest examples of electric jazz-funk from the mid-'70s. With sidemen who included guitarist Roland Prince, drummer Al Foster, tenor saxophonist Harold Vick, and trombonist Dave Bargeron, as well as bassists Eddie Gomez (acoustic) and Roderick Gaskin (electric), Willis assembled a session that was long on composition and tight on the big groove. Willis' long front lines accentuated deep soul and blues' cadences that were hallmarks of music that walked the line between tough lean groove and the pulsating rhythm of disco without losing its jazz roots to sterile fusion tropes, thanks in large part to his willingness as a pianist to play as part of an ensemble rather than as a soloist. Tracks such as "153rd Street Theme," with its loping saxophone lines juxtaposed against deep groove basslines, offer a deeper perspective on the funk; the shimmering modal intensity of the title cut nods to the expansiveness of Miles Davis' "In a Silent Way,"and the blissed-out soul of "Journey's End," accentuates the wide-open engagement with lyricism that was frequently left out of the electric jazz equation during the period. Along with the other tracks here, they offer a moving, wonderfully conceived and articulated aspect of the music that has been sadly overlooked by all but the most devoted fans of the genre.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/inner-crisis-mw0000361184
Biography by Ron Wynn
Once identified with on-the-edge free music, keyboardist Larry Willis had a profitable flirtation with fusion in the '70s, then moved to hard bop in the '80s and '90s. Willis' playing has been frenetic, ambitious, and interesting, but during his jazz-rock and fusion days it was funky but greatly restrained and simplistic. A devotee of Herbie Hancock, Willis has found a good balance, with expertly constructed modal solos and also lyrical, relaxed statements. Willis graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in the early '60s, then played with Jackie McLean and Hugh Masekela. He recorded with Lee Morgan and McLean in the mid-'60s, and worked with Kai Winding and Stan Getz, as well as recording with Robin Kenyatta in 1969. Willis turned to synthesizer and electric piano in the '70s, doing sessions with Cannonball Adderley, Earl May, Joe Henderson, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Masekela again. He joined Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1972, recorded with Alphonse Mouzon in both 1972 and 1973, and did dates as a leader and freelance session musician. Willis also recorded with Ryo Kawasaki and Sonny Fortune in the late '70s, and with David "Fathead" Newman and Carla Bley in the '80s. Willis toured and recorded with Nat Adderley in the '80s and joined Woody Shaw's quintet in 1986. He's done sessions as a leader for Groove Merchant, Steeplechase, Audioquest, Brunswick, and Mapleshade, among others, including Blue Fable and Offering on Highnote in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-willis-mn0000114935/biography
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Reseña de Thom Jurek
Inner Crisis de Larry Willis es uno de los mejores ejemplos de jazz-funk eléctrico de mediados de los 70. Con los acompañantes que incluían al guitarrista Roland Prince, el baterista Al Foster, el saxofonista tenor Harold Vick y el trombonista Dave Bargeron, así como los bajistas Eddie Gómez (acústico) y Roderick Gaskin (eléctrico), Willis montó una sesión que era larga en la composición y apretada en el gran groove. Las largas líneas frontales de Willis acentuaban las cadencias profundas del soul y el blues, que eran el sello de una música que caminaba por la línea entre el groove duro y magro y el ritmo palpitante de la música disco sin perder sus raíces jazzísticas en tropos de fusión estériles, gracias en gran parte a su voluntad como pianista de tocar como parte de un conjunto en lugar de como solista. Temas como "153rd Street Theme", con sus líneas de saxofón yuxtapuestas a las líneas de bajo del deep groove, ofrecen una perspectiva más profunda del funk; la brillante intensidad modal del corte que da título al disco hace referencia a la expansión de "In a Silent Way" de Miles Davis, y el soul exaltado de "Journey's End" acentúa el compromiso abierto con el lirismo que a menudo se dejaba de lado en la ecuación del jazz eléctrico durante ese periodo. Junto con los demás temas aquí, ofrecen un aspecto conmovedor, maravillosamente concebido y articulado de la música que ha sido tristemente pasado por alto por todos, excepto por los más devotos fans del género.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/inner-crisis-mw0000361184
Biografía de Ron Wynn
Identificado en su día con la música libre de vanguardia, el teclista Larry Willis tuvo un provechoso coqueteo con la fusión en los años 70, y luego se pasó al hard bop en los 80 y 90. La forma de tocar de Willis ha sido frenética, ambiciosa e interesante, pero durante sus días de jazz-rock y fusión era funky pero muy contenida y simplista. Devoto de Herbie Hancock, Willis ha encontrado un buen equilibrio, con solos modales construidos por expertos y también declaraciones líricas y relajadas. Willis se graduó en la Manhattan School of Music a principios de los 60, y luego tocó con Jackie McLean y Hugh Masekela. Grabó con Lee Morgan y McLean a mediados de los 60, y trabajó con Kai Winding y Stan Getz, además de grabar con Robin Kenyatta en 1969. Willis se pasó al sintetizador y al piano eléctrico en los años 70 y realizó sesiones con Cannonball Adderley, Earl May, Joe Henderson, Richard "Groove" Holmes y Masekela de nuevo. Se unió a Blood, Sweat & Tears en 1972, grabó con Alphonse Mouzon tanto en 1972 como en 1973, e hizo fechas como líder y músico de sesión independiente. Willis también grabó con Ryo Kawasaki y Sonny Fortune a finales de los 70, y con David "Fathead" Newman y Carla Bley en los 80. Willis estuvo de gira y grabó con Nat Adderley en los 80 y se unió al quinteto de Woody Shaw en 1986. Ha realizado sesiones como líder para Groove Merchant, Steeplechase, Audioquest, Brunswick y Mapleshade, entre otros, incluyendo Blue Fable y Offering en Highnote en 2007 y 2008, respectivamente.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-willis-mn0000114935/biography
Tracklist
1 - Out On The Coast -
2 - 153rd Street Theme -
3 - Inner Crisis -
4 - Bahamian Street Dance -
5 - For A Friend -
6 - Journey's End
Credits:
Art Direction – Sam Alexander
Bass – Eddie Gomez, Roderick Gaskin
Composed By, Electric Piano, Piano [Acoustic] – Larry Willis
Drums – Al Foster, Warren Benbow
Engineer [Recording] – Malcolm Addey
Guitar – Roland Prince
Mastered By – Sam Feldman
Photography By – Chuck Stewart
Producer – Sonny Lester
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Harold Vick
Trombone – Dave Bargeron
Notes:
Recorded in New York, 1973
Label: Groove Merchant – GM 514
Released: 1974
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/Larry-Willis-Inner-Crisis/release/1445879
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