Jubilation by William Hooker

William Hooker is a musician, composer, and poet with over 70 recordings as a leader, encompassing jazz, new music, experimental music and multi-disciplinary forms of expression (e.g. dance, silent film and spoken word). He has been recognized as “an iconoclast, and one of the most innovative musicians and drummers of his generation” [The Wire], which is evident nowhere more than on his latest album, Jubilation. The new work features collaborators Matt LaVelle on trumpet, Stevie Manning on alto saxophone, On Davis on guitar, and Adam Lane on Bass. The release marks Hooker’s fourth outing for Org Music, following Flesh and Bones (2023), Big Moon (2021), and Symphonie of Flowers (2019).

Hooker says of Jubilation, “our express purpose was to play great music and to communicate such.” The group, captured live in 2023 at acclaimed Brooklyn performance arts venue Roullette, does just that. The dynamic set showcases each of the players’ unique craft with extended solo performances, introducing new elements and building towards a more collaborative effort as the piece progresses. The result, captured faithfully on this recording, is pure Jubilation (noun; a feeling of great happiness and triumph).

William Hooker is a musician, composer, and poet with over 70 recordings as a leader in jazz and experimental music. He has been called “an iconoclast, and one of the most innovative musicians and drummers of his generation” [The Wire]. Hooker's latest album is "Jubilation" On March 28, 2025 Hooker released a recently unearthed live recording from 1977 featuring David Ware & Alan Braufman.