Bill Lee (musician)

This article is about the American jazz bassist. For the voice-over musician, see Bill Lee (singer).

Bill Lee
Publicity Photo of Bill Lee
Publicity Photo of Bill Lee
Background information
Birth nameWilliam James Edwards Lee
Also known asWilliam J. E. Lee
Born(1928-07-23)July 23, 1928
Snow Hill, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 24, 2023(2023-05-24) (aged 94)
New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor, actor
Instrument(s)Double bass, bass guitar
LabelsStrata-East Records, Columbia Records
Formerly ofAretha Franklin, Odetta, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Terence Blanchard

William James Edwards Lee III (July 23, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin, his compositions for jazz percussionist Max Roach, and his session work as a "first-call" musician and band leader to many of the twentieth-century's most significant musical artists, including Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Harry Belafonte, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Billy Strayhorn, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger, among many others.[1][2][3][4]

Lee recorded three critically acclaimed albums at the Black independent label Strata-East Records: (1) The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe: A Spirit Speaks; (2) The Brass Company: Colors, in collaboration with his two sisters; and (3) The New York Bass Violin Choir, a collaboration of seven basses, which JazzdaGama described as "a true Holy Grail for all musicians," and which Lee classified as one of his "narrative folk, jazz operas" along with "One Mile East," both of which were inspired by memories of the former slave quarters near his childhood home.[1][2][4][5][6] Stagings at New York City's Central Park, Lincoln Center and Newport Jazz Festival followed all of these recordings.[7]

Trumpeter Theo Croker called Lee "one of the great American composers of our time. His harmonic beauty was unique and his choice of melody always struck a chord inside of the listener. He was a masterful orchestrator of imagery."[4] In 2008, The New York Times noted that "His music has the complex harmonies of bebop and hard bop, but it also has a sincere, down-home, churchy feel. His passages move to interesting and unexpected places, but they resolve before long in a way that is simple and sincere, earthy and somehow very satisfying."[8]

Featured in more than 250 record albums, and on such songs as "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," Lee also appeared in several movies made by his son, acclaimed film-maker Spike Lee, in addition to creating original soundtracks for She's Gotta Have It (1986), School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), and Mo' Better Blues (1990).[2][3][6]

  1. ^ a b "Bill Lee, Jazz Musician and Father of Spike Lee, Dies at 94". Pitchfork. May 24, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c McFadden, Robert D. (May 25, 2023). "Bill Lee, 94, Bassist and Composer for Son Spike Lee's Films, Is Dead". The New York Times. p. A21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "'Standing on the Shoulders of Those Who Came Before Me'". Local 802 AFM. February 1, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Scott, Ron (June 1, 2023). "Composer and bassist Bill Lee dies at 94". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Gama, Raul Da (April 26, 2015). "The New York Bass Violin Choir: Bill Lee". Jazz da Gama. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  6. ^ a b ALLAH, MAL'AKIY 17 (June 1, 2023). "Jazz bassist Bill Lee, transitions at 94". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Kilgannon, Corey (July 25, 2008). "It's Spike's 80-Year-Old Father, and All That Jazz". City Room. Retrieved June 1, 2023.