BILLY BANG

Instruments: Violin
Date of Birth: September 20, 1947
Place of Birth: Mobile, Alabama

Born Billy Walker, Billy studied violin as a youngster growing up in New York's South Bronx.

In the early 60's he abandoned the violin for percussion, getting into Afro-Cuban rhythms. Drafted to Vietnam, he had a political awakening and returned to America to throw himself into the anti-war movement. When he began to play music again in 1971 he experimented with saxophones, but came back to the violin, recognizing that this was where his technical facility lay. Bang became known as an associate of Sam Rivers and Frank Lowe, playing was an essential component of the celebrated Loft scene.

In the early 70's he formed his own group, The Survival Ensemble, and in 1977 co-founded the String Trio Of New York. Associations with Sun Ra, Don Cherry, Marilyn Crispell and James Blood Ulmer were also productive.

Like other musicians of his generation, Bang refuses categories; from elegant free jazz and austere art music to playing on Bootsy Collin's comeback album. In 1988 Bang toured Europe and recorded with a quartet that comprised Charles, Lowe and Sirone.

Albums:

• New York Collage (1978)
• Sweet Space (1979)
• Rainbow Gladiator (1981)
• Untitled Gift (1982)
• Invitation (1982)
• Outline No 12 (1982)
• Bangception (1983)
• Distinction Without A Difference (1983)

• Intensive Care (1984)
• The Fire From Within (1985)
• Live At Carlos I (1987)

• Another Kind Of Groove (1987)
• Valve No 10 (1991)