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William Hooker
I am a drummer,composer and poet
About Me
William Hooker's body of uninterrupted work beginning in the mid-
seventies defines him as one of the most important composers and
players in jazz. As bandleader, Hooker has fielded ensembles in an
incredibly diverse array of configurations. Each collaboration has
brought a serious investigation of his compositional agenda and
the science of the modern drum kit.
His work is frequently grounded in a narrative context. Whether
set against a silent film or anchored by a poetic theme, Hooker
brings dramatic tension and human warmth to avant-garde jazz.
His ability to find fertile ground for moving music in a variety
of settings that obliterate genre distinctions offers a much-
needed statement of social optimism in the arts.
William Hooker (drummer,composer and poet) has created works that
range from jazz and new music to experimental genres. He has
released over 60 CDs a a leader. Mr. Hooker has performed at the
Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Atrium at Lincoln Center, Wadsworth
Atheneum, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Walker Art Center,MTV, The
Kitchen, Roulette, Real Art Ways. He has also presented his work
at the JVC Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz
Festival, CMJ Music Festival,Vilnius Jazz Festival, Experimenta
Argentina,The Knitting Factory and the Victoriaville Music
Festival.
William Hooker has received commissions and support from the New
York State Council on the Arts,Meet the Composer,Tokio Marine
Insurance Company and colleges and universities such as Oberlin,
Fordham, Columbia,New York University, Boston University,
Princeton, Dartmouth and many more. Accompanying musicians have
included Billy Bang,David Ware,William Parker,Thurston Moore,
David Soldier,Roy Campbell,DJ Spooky,Steven Bernstein,Zeena
Parkins,Lee Ranaldo,Jason Hwang,Sabir Mateen, Elliot Sharpe,David
Murray,Ted Daniel,JD Parren and many more.
William knows no genre bounds and ceaselessly searches for new
forms of music, always with the intent to inspire.