Wow. Thank you for sharing this. Absolutely beautiful.

@@AlvesterGarnett You’re welcome! *And just to be clear: the Tony Williams described in the KZfaq here rings true to me, including the angrier side … different aspects of the same man. Maybe he felt a little more at ease when he was teaching, because I never saw him blow up at a student. But the intensity was always there; in the one weird exchange I had with him (mentioned above) he was intense-in my mind I was like, “he’s joking, but he’s not joking.” *He was a human and generous teacher, and very very smart. He really wanted us to learn how to play. *At the risk of outstaying my welcome here, one more thing comes to mind: His relationship with his wife mattered to him, and that came out a couple of times in passing remarks during class. Once he mentioned a show they both liked; another time he said briefly that they had attended some kind of social event, and been the first couple to take the dance floor. That was a special moment for him somehow. * Life sure flies by.

I might have been one of those students in the same class, but I don't remember the DW kit. But everything else you mentioned I can corroborate. I liked it when he'd hang out in front of the shop to smoke his cigar before the lessons, and he'd talk with us about everything from music to NFL football. He was super funny too, he had a great sense of humor.

@@drumroll420 It’s possible I’m remembering the kit wrong after so much time. What always stuck in my mind about the kit we used, as it is in my memory at least, was that I didn’t like the look of the red hardware … whereas the yellow shells looked great, and of course were already his color, from back in the Gretsch days. … I didn’t realize he smoked the cigars out front, but it totally rings true. And yeah, the humor. I remember one time he said to us something like, “All right men. Today we will hunt the lion, and kill the bear.” LIke drum-class-as-male-bonding-ritual, in an ironic way …

@@percussionboy4357 I found his ad for lessons in the SF Weekly, I think the class I was in was the first class of students that signed up. Scott Garrison was working there before that, along with some other guy who I forget his name worked for Drum World back in the old small shop on Geneva (he always wore a a cap like the ones cyclists wear). The guy with the cap was student of Chuck Brown, the famous Bay Area drum teacher who taught Terry Bozzio and Dave Garibaldi. I also took lessons with Brown for about a year, and about a year later then took the class and a few individual lessons with Tony. I told Tony I had studied with Brown, and he asked me "Have you ever seen Brown play anywhere?". I said no I haven't, because all Brown did was teach. Tony asked me why I wanted to study with Brown. I said "Well.." and before I could finish he said "Because he taught Terry, and Dave, and this guy and that guy". I sheepishly nodded yes lol, and he was like "Look, if you're going to study with a guy, at least check him out and see how he plays with a band. I bet he told you it would take five years with him to get all his stuff down". I nodded yes again. Tony then said "Guys like that will string you along for years because that's how they make their bread. That's why you find cats that play, to see what they teach works". Tony and Brown had a history between each other that went back all the way to when both were in Boston. Tony told me that Brown back then was telling everyone in Boston that he taught Tony heard about it, and found Brown over at Berklee in a practice room. Tony said "I saw him hunched over a practice pad, practicing single stokes as fast as he could, drool coming out of his mouth I called him out about he telling everyone I was a student of his, and denied it. I told everyone that Brown was full of shit, and told Brown to stop saying that bullshit because it wasn't true". The way Tony told me that story was hilarious, I am not doing that story any justice, and of the many wonderful moments I had over at Drum World with Tony and everyone in the classroom - especially when he taught me how to play the ride cymbal that everyone on KZfaq who has "How to play the ride like Tony" all wrong - what I remember was how down to earth he was, how he took interest in everyone individually, and how it didn't matter what level you were at playing, it was all about the drums, their history and meaning. He was a joy to be around, fun to have a laugh with, and was a great genuine person who just as a person you wanted to aspire to be. Let alone one of the greatest musicians who ever lived. Good to see a fellow alumni. Too bad Drum World doesn't exist anymore. But at least we have those memories.

Same here. I was fortunate to see him with that group, too. Also several times at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago at the Blackstone Hotel.

I wish there were more photos of it !

I agree. Regardless if you are paying people to work for you , good manners cost nothing...I met David Bowie once at a show in Denmark, one of the nicest guys you could meet...also worked at peter Gabriel's studio..he knew everyones 1st names within a day... lovely guy

@Jim and Julia Yep, we have to separate the art from the artist. I’ve heard stories that Tony was very prickly and irascible. I’ve always wondered if he picked that up from Miles. We all have our something, Jazz fans know that Williams was a brilliant drummer. God rest his soul.

Alongside the work with Miles in those same years.

Agreed!!!!

@Zaraduba great hats for recording

Great story/stories on a great legendary drum shop. I used to be Gene Okamoto's barber after his regular barber succumbed to cancer. Had no idea all that time Gene loved drums and was from the Bay area. He never talked about drums until I became his barber. Retired from Pearl Drums and enjoying life. Gene had some great stories.

@Peter Carey Montclair State U. Good memories about that place in the early 80’s as a kid. JERSEY!

Tony was a weird genius!

Why limit his voices? It how he spoke. Get over that 4pc nonsense.

he started with the bigger kit because he couldnt hear himself!

Like Miles, Tony moved ahead and pushed the envelope all his life.

Read my comment to back up your “Saint” mention!!!

Just combed the internet looking for a picture and only found two, neither showed the complete set.

@@DAGDRUM53 Thanks

Yes!!!

Originally he had a yellow gretsch kit, 18in or 20in kick, two 12in rack toms and a 14in floor. He played this while jack Bruce was in lifetime. Sometime after that he upgraded to the full size kit.

@@kapalin846 Got any photos of that? Just curious.

@@Oneness100 I believe he’s playing the same kit in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nc5gmbSA3sjVYIk.html There are a couple photos online, unfortunately KZfaq will not allow me to post the link.

Yeah, who’s ever heard of a great artist being a huge narcissist?!

You must be fun at parties.It’s just eccentricity of a great artist. Relax

Tony was a complex and sometimes difficult personality; he knew he had issues of various kinds and at one point received therapy/counseling to deal with it. I talked with Tony on the phone once briefly, in 1976 on the Million Dollar legs tour just after Holdsworth had left & been replaced by Marlon Graves, and Tony was not very friendly to say the least. I have heard some cassette recordings of interviews he did with a music magazine journalist a couple of years later circa 1978, and likewise he wasn't warm & fuzzy; he sounded like he wasn't enjoying the interview process and made no attempt to hide this. By stark contrast, I met Buddy Rich a number of times and he was always friendly and gracious; likewise for Elvin Jones. Still, to this day, Tony Williams remains in a class all his own and along with Buddy and Elvin is one of the all-time greats of the drums with a singular talent that was all his own.

Sounds like a guy you can best appreciate from a reasonable distance. Great talents are often difficult to handle, but there are exceptions, see Nile Rodgers.

@Robert Phoenix - The 11th House Brilliant artist and yes, a guy you can best appreciate from a distance. God rest his soul.

Agree , these drum ? are so lousy sounding .Over hyped . Brainwashing ..

McDrums...comes w fries

human beings are complex!