Billy Bang – Changing Seasons

Billy “Bang” Walker was a a student of Leroy Jenkins who developed his own personal style of avant-garde free jazz violin by imitating Eric Dolphy’s style at the reeds. His third studio album Changing Seasons features frequent collaborator William Parker on bass along with a few Japanese experimentalists: Toshi Tsuchitori (percussion, autoharp), Masahiko Kono (trombone), and Kazunori Sugiyama on production. The four extended compositions here have a wonderfully organic, woody feel to them with Bang’s deeply emotional and complex violin playing leading the charge. Tsuchitori, who would later dive into the world of ancient instruments, adds an almost Asian rhythmic sense to the sound that makes for a truly unique listen.

Recommended – Full Listen