Willis, Larry
Just In Time
Just in Time, is a long-overdue spotlight on one of jazz's most quietly influential pianists. Recorded in 1989 with Bob Cranshaw on bass and Kenny Washington on drums, this trio session captures Williss lyrical touch, harmonic depth, and rhythmic sophistication in full bloom. Williss career began with a voice solo in Aaron Coplands The Second Hurricane under Leonard Bernstein, but jazz soon claimed him. By 19, he was playing with Jackie McLean and Hugh Masekela, and later with Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. His style-rooted in Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, and Herbie Hancock-melds cerebral modernism with soulful hard bop. The album features a mix of standards and originals, including the swinging title track, the introspective "Soul Search," and the Monk-inspired "Ts Bag Blues." His Latin-tinged "Te Quiero Mi Hermano" and homage to Herbie Hancock on "One Finger Snap" reveal a pianist deeply attuned to rhythm and tradition.