BILL Pl&

By Willard Jenkins

 

Bill Pierce '73, known to friends and
intimates and in most of his many
performing incarnations as Billy, is clearly
a man with great time—both on and off
the bandstand, and he's apparently a man
cognizant of nice round numbers.
Consider that tonight's joyous retirement
celebration of the many gifts he's given
and wisdom he’s laid on students, comes
in light of his 40-year Berklee tenure, and
a mere day after his milestone

70th birthday!

This evening's celebration is an
auspicious one, produced by Bill's fellow
educator and Berklee colleague, Terri
Lyne Carrington ‘83, who is a
consummate drummer in perpetual high
demand on a multiplicity of high profile
bandstands. Accepting a scholarship
to Berklee in 1976 at the tender age of
11, she has the long view of Bill Pierce's
40-year experience at the school, having
arrived there a year after Pierce assumed a

a T

part-time faculty position.

It is certainly fitting that Berklee is
celebrating his four-decade teaching
residence, but Bill Pierce's gifts begin with
his distinguished approach to the
saxophone. Certainly someone knew
what was up when they titled his debut
recording as a leader William The
Conqueror (Sunnyside, reissued in 1995
as Complete William the Conqueror
Sessions). "Bill Pierce is a musician’s
musician,” Terri Lyne Carrington insists.
“He is fluid, lyrical, and dexterous. He
developed an original sound concept
that influenced generations of players
after him, making his contributions to jazz
formidable. Though he has retired, he has
not ‘called it quits,’ so we are looking
forward to his next musical incarnation.”

This evening's program will feature two
unique sets: opening the evening will be
four of Billy Pierce's exceptional and
successful saxophone students—Melissa