William Hooker (born June 18, 1946) is an American drummer and composer.
Early life and education
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]
Career
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]
William Hooker in 2023
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]
Discography
...Is Eternal Life (Reality Unit Concepts 1977) - featuring David Murray, Mark Miller, David S. Ware, Hasaan Dawkins, and Les Goodson
Brighter Lights (Reality Unit Concepts 1986)
Lifeline (Silkheart Records 1988) - William Hooker Quartet featuring Alan Michael, Claude Lawrence, William Parker, Mark Hennen, Charles Compo, Masahiko Kono
The Firmament Fury (Silkheart 1989) - William Hooker Ensemble featuring Claude Lawrence, Charles Compo, Masahiko Kono, Donald Miller
Shamballa: Duets with Thurston Moore and Elliott Sharp (Knitting Factory Works 1993)
Envisioning (Knitting Factory Works 1994) - William Hooker and Lee Ranaldo
Radiation (Positive Music 1994) - featuring Donald Miller, Brian Doherty, Charles Compo, Masahiko Kono
Armageddon (Homestead 1995)
Gift of Tongues (1995) - featuring Lee Ranaldo and Zeena Parkins
Joy (Within)! (Silkheart 1996) - William Hooker - Billy Bang Duo
Heat of the Light (Dream Sequences) (Rabid God Inoculator 1996) - Solo
Tibet (Ummo 1996) - featuring Mark Hennen, Charles Compo, Donald Miller
Mindfulness (Knitting Factory Works 1997) - featuring DJ Olive and Glenn Spearman
The Distance Between Us (Knitting Factory Works 1999)
Bouquet: Live at the Knitting Factory 4.23.99 (Knitting Factory Works 2000) - Christian Marclay and Lee Ranaldo
Hard Time (Squealer 2001) - featuring Jesse Henry, Richard Keene, Donald Miller, Doug Walker
Black Mask (Knitting Factory Works 2002) - Duets with Andrea Parkins, Jason Hwang, Roy Nathanson
Out Trios, Vol. 1: Monsoon (Atavistic 2003) - featuring Roger Miller and Lee Ranaldo
Yearn for Certainty (2010) - featuring Sabir Mateen and Dave Soldier
Crossing Points (2011) - featuring Thomas Chapin
William Hooker Duo featuring Mark Hennen (2012)
A Postcard From the Road (2012) - featuring Edward Ricart and Dave Ross
Channels of Consciousness (2012) - featuring Adam Lane, Dave Ross, Chris DiMeglio, and Sanga
Heart of the Sun (2013) - featuring Roy Campbell and Dave Soldier
Red (Atypeek Music 2015) - William Hooker Quartet featuring Matt Lavelle, Mark Hennen, Larry Roland and William Hooker
Aria (Multatta Records 2016) - featuring Dave Soldier, On Davis, Mark Hennan, Richard Keene, and Louie Belogenis
Pillars ... at the Portal (Multatta Records 2018) – featuring Jon Irabagon, James Brandon Lewis, Luke Stewart, and Anthony Pirog[4]
