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Bill Easley

Bill Easley has had a diversified career, as a professional musician, spanning more than forty -five years. Bill represents the fourth generation of a family dedicated to music.

Over the years he has played in bands led by such notables as Ruth Brown, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Bobby Short, Louie Bellson, Nicholas Payton, Charles McPhearson, James Williams, Roland Hanna, Earl May, Illinois Jaquett, Ron Carter, Frank Foster, Mercer Ellington, Warren Vache',Panama Fransis and Grady Tate among many others.

In addition to his extensive discography as a sideman, he also has four recordings as a leader; Wind Inventions, First Call, Easley Said and Business Man's Bounce His arsenal of woodwind instruments includes; Tenor, Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet, and Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute and piccolo.

Bill Easley started playing professionally in 1959 with his parents at the age of thirteen. The Bob Easley Combo played country clubs, dances, and night clubs in and around his hometown of Olean, N.Y. This early experience gave him the foundation on which to build a long and rewarding career.

He moved to New York City in Sept. of 1964. He was a part time student at the Julliard School of Music while getting his feet wet in the uptown Jazz Scene. The U.S. Draft Board had other plans and Bill did his military service with the 9th Army Band in Fairbanks Alaska.

Easley joined The George Benson Quartet in Jan. of 1968 and traveled with the great guitarist for the remainder of the decade. This band worked in such legendary jazz spots as Minton's Playhouse in N.Y., The Plugged Nickel in Chicago, The Jazz Workshop in Boston, and The Hurricane in Pittsburgh.

After a brief residence in Pittsburgh, Pa., Easley followed his instincts to Memphis, Tenn. In Memphis he did a variety of things including: performing and recording with Isaac Hayes, other studio work, big bands, show bands, and jazz clubs. He also continued his formal education at Memphis State University. It was in the mid 1970s that Easley first toured with the Duke Ellington Orch. under the direction of Mercer Ellington. In January of 1980 Bill moved back to N.Y.C., with the promise of a job on Broadway.

His Broadway Credits include; Sophisticated Ladies, The Wiz, Black and Blue, Jelly’s Last Jam, Swingin' On A Star, Play On, Fosse, and most recently, The Wild Party.

Bill has been a part of the Jazz Repertory Movement, playing in The American Jazz Orchestra (John Lewis); The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra (David Baker); and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (Wynton Marsalis). He was a guest soloist with The Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra (Jon Faddis) in its tribute to Benny Goodman on Nov. 21, 1993.

Swingadelic: Bluesville

Read "Bluesville" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
June 29, 2020

If you're partial to music that is sunny and freewheeling and almost commands a smile, you should have no trouble warming to Bluesville, the eighth recording by New Jersey-based Swingadelic, now twenty-two years old and counting. As its name implies, the orchestra (more often than not a mini-big band a dozen or so strong) re-creates an era wherein young fun-lovers (and some older ones as well) listened, danced and grooved to bands whose essential purpose was to make sure everyone ...

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Album Review

Bill Easley: Business Man's Bounce

Read "Business Man's Bounce" reviewed by Ken Dryden

by Ken Dryden
June 8, 2008

For most of his career, tenor saxophonist Bill Easley has worked as a sideman, including sessions for the Stax label. For just his fourth CD as a leader, his band includes pianist Larry Ham, bassist Hassan JJ Shakur and the seasoned drummer Michael Carvin on selections which draw from different eras of jazz. Easley soars in his opener, “Straighten Up and Fly Right" (the Nat King Cole sermon-like hit inspired in part by his preacher father), which ...

120

Album Review

Bill Easley Sextet: Easley Said

Read "Easley Said" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 1997

Whether the genre is blues, rhythm & blues or hard bop, Bill Easley remains a versatile and often silent practician of musical mastery. Easley has played with Sir Roland Hanna, James Williams, Bill Mobley, Mulgrew Miller, Grady Tate, George Caldwell, Victor Gaskin and Billy Higgins among others. Unfortunately for his audience, Bill Easley has not performed very often as a leader. His preference is to remain a steady contributor in the background. “Easley Said" is his fourth outing as a ...

Performance / Tour

Antoinette Montague with the Bill Easley Quartet, Saturday, Sept. 8, Yonkers Riverfest 2007

Source: All About Jazz
September 5, 2007

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Performance / Tour

Antoinette Montague with the Bill Easley Quartet Upcoming Appearances

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
August 16, 2007

NJPAC / JP MorganChase Presents: Sounds of the City with a WBGO Live Broadcast 88.3fm Antoinette Montague w the Bill Easley Quartet August 23, 2007 at 6:45pm - 7:30pm Free Outdoor Concert on Thursday, August 23, 2007 Antoinette Montague with the Bill Easley Quartet Bring a chair and prepare to swing to some good music. Two other amazing groups performing that night starting at 5:00pm - 9:30pm Consider purchasing Antoinette's cd Pretty Blues Sounds of the ...
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Performance / Tour

Antoinette Montague with the Bill Easley Quartet - Feb & March Dates

Source: All About Jazz
January 19, 2007

Jazz and Blues artist keeping the tradition and keeping it fresh and fun. Sunday, February 11, 2007 5 pm sharp, please Jazz Vespers at St. Peters Church (The Church of the Night Flock) 54th and Lexington Ave NYC Sunday, March 11, 2007 5 pm sharp, please The Presbyterian Jazz Society First Presbyterian Church East Lincoln & North Columbus Ave, Mount ...
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Performance / Tour

Antoinette Montague and the Bill Easley Quartet April 14 and June 11

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2006

Antoinette Montague and the Bill Easley Quartet featuring Donald Smith on piano, Victor Jones on drums

Friday, April 14, 2006 8:00 pm & 11:00 pm The Bacchus Room Bona Fides Ristorante/Giardino 60 Second Avenue (bet. 3rd and 4th Street) NYC 212-777-2840 Two drink minimum per set

Sunday, June 11, 2006 6:00 pm The Presbyterian Jazz Society First Presbyterian ...
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Performance / Tour

Antoinette Montague and the Bill Easley Quartet, featuring Donald Smith Sunday, March 24 at The Bacchus Room

Source: All About Jazz
March 22, 2006

Antoinette Montague and the Bill Easley Quartet featuring Donald Smith on piano Date: Sunday, March 24, 2006 Show Times: 8:00 pm & 11:00 pm Location: The Bacchus Room Bonafide Restaurant 60 Second Avenue (bet. 3rd and 4th Street) NYC 212-777-2840 Two drink minimum per set Master reed player, band leader and renowned session player Bill Easley is joined by Antoinette Montague, a Jazz singer ...
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Performance / Tour

Bill Easley Quartet Featuring Antoinette Montague at The First Presbyterian Church Sunday February 12, 2006 at 6:00pm

Source: All About Jazz
February 10, 2006

February 6, 2006 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Sunday February 12, 2006 at 6:00pm The First Presbyterian Church 199 North Columbus Ave. (corner of East Lincoln Ave.) 10553-1196 1914-664-664-0623 Come out and party with us presbyterianjazzsociety.org Master reed player, band leader and renowned session player Bill Easley is joined by Antoinette for a Pre-St Valentine's Day Jazz celebration, presented by the 25 year running Presbyterian Jazz Society of Mount Vernon, NY. Bill Easley has had a amazing and diversified ...
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