Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bill Easley was born in Orlean, New York on January 13, 1964 and began playing saxophone professionally with his parents at the age of thirteen. He moved to New York City in 1964 and 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.
He worked with George Benson in the late 60s closing out the decade playing such legendary jazz spots as Minton’s Playhouse, the Plugged Nickel, The jazz Workshop and The Hurricane. He would move to Memphis working and recording with Isaac Hayes in the 70s, and performing other studio work at Stax and Hi Records, big bands, show bands and jazz clubs during which he continued his formal education at Memphis State University.
It was in the mid 1970s that Easley first toured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra under Mercer Ellington. By 1980 he was back in New York City 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.
The move to return to New York City provided recording sessions for Sunnyside and Milestone playing with the likes of Sir Roland Hanna, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith, Ruth Brown, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Grady Tate and Billy Higgins among others. Saxophonist, Flautist and clarinetist Bill Easley continues his legacy of recording and performing.
