William Hooker (musician)

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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.<ref name="Grove">Template:Citation</ref> He began to play the drums at the age of 12.<ref name="Grove" /> In high school, he played in a rock band, then switched to jazz.<ref name="Grove" /> After graduating from Central Connecticut College, Hooker moved to California and became interested in free jazz.<ref name="Grove" />

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.<ref name="Grove" /> His first recording as a leader was in 1976.<ref name="Grove" /> His music was too radical to be commercially successful, and Hooker took other jobs to earn a living.<ref name="Grove" /> This changed after he received praise for a 1988 recording, and he made frequent appearances at the Knitting Factory from early the following decade.<ref name="Grove" /> Hooker was a founding member of the Text of Light, a musician's collective that released seven albums between 2004 and 2010.<ref name="AM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Hooker has led several bands, including a drums–trumpet–saxophone trio and an organ trio.<ref name="Grove" /> They usually do not feature a bass, "because of the intensity and volume of his drumming".<ref name="Grove" /> He has also been the drummer in duos with guitarists, including Elliott Sharp and Thurston Moore.<ref name="Grove" /> 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.<ref name="AM" />

File:WhookerVlcsnap-2023-09-09-01h41m32s204.png

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".<ref name="DB19">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

"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".<ref name="Grove" />

Discography

• ...Is Eternal Life (Reality Unit Concepts 1977) - featuring David Murray, Mark Miller, David S. Ware, Hasaan Dawkins, and Les Goodson<ref>https://www.williamhooker.com/interviewdetail.aspx?interview=4</ref>
• 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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Remembering (Astral Spirits 2018) - William Hooker Trio featuring Ava Mendoza and Damon Smith
• Symphonie of Flowers (ORG Music, 2019)
• Cycle of Restoration (2019) - featuring Mark Kirschenmann and Joel Peterson
• Full On! (2019) - Duos with Mark Kirschenmann, featuring guest Marcus Elliot
• Nels Cline, Alan Licht & William Hooker Live (2020)
• Flesh And Bones (ORG Music, 2023) <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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External links

• William Hooker interview by Matt Silcock, Perfect Sound Forever, February 2000.
• The Trove interview by Sharon Pendana