Larry Willis (Lawrence Elliott Willis, New York City, NY, USA, December 20, 1940 - September 29, 2019) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion, Afro Cuban Jazz, bebop and avant-garde. Willis was born in New York City. After his first year studying music theory at the Manhattan School of Music he began performing regularly with Jackie McLean. After he graduated he made his first jazz recording, McLean's Right Now! in January 1965, which featured two of Willis' compositions. His first recording of any type, however, was as a singer with the Music and Arts Chorale Ensemble, performing an opera by Aaron Copland under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He decided to concentrate on jazz because of the difficulties African American musicians had in finding work in concert music. Throughout his career he has performed with a wide range of musicians, including several years as keyboardist for Blood, Sweat & Tears (beginning in 1972). He spent several years as pianist for Nat Adderley, as well as long and productive tenures with Roy Hargrove and with Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band. His latest recording with Paul Murphy, Exposé, demonstrated the fusion principles of bebop and avant-garde jazz. His composition "Sanctuary" began exploring works employing strings. After a successful performance in Frank Lloyd Wright's Annie Pfieffer Chapel at Florida Southern College's Child of the Sun Jazz Festival he was commissioned to write a full scale orchestral work for jazz trio and orchestra. He received the Don Redman award in 2011, and the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award at Howard University in 2012. Discography As leader/co-leader A New Kind of Soul (LLP, 1970) Inner Crisis (Groove Merchant, 1973) My Funny Valentine (Jazz City, 1988) Just in Time (SteepleChase, 1989) Heavy Blue (SteepleChase, 1990) Let's Play (SteepleChase, 1991) Steal Away (AudioQuest, 1991 1992)[2] Solo Spirit (Mapleshade, 1992, [1993]) How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (SteepleChase, 1992) Unforgettable: Piano Solos, (SteepleChase, 1992) A Tribute to Someone (AudioQuest, 1993 [1994]) Serenade (Sound Hills, 1995) If Trees Could Talk (Mapleshade, 1999) with Hamiet Bluiett Sunshower (Mapleshade, 2001) with Kash Killion, Steve Novosel, Paul Murphy, Steve Berrios Sanctuary (Mapleshade, 2003) with Joe Ford, Ray Codrington, Steve Novosel, Steve Berrios, Artie Sherman and the Rick Schmidt Strings The Powers of Two (Mapleshade, 2004) with Paul Murphy The Powers of Two, Volume 2 (Mapleshade, 2004 [2006]) with Paul Murphy Alter Ego (Mapleshade, 2006) with Tony Pancella The Big Push (HighNote, 2006) Blue Fable (HighNote, 2007) The Offering (HighNote, 2008) This Time the Dream's on Me (HighNote, 2012) As sideman With Nat Adderley On the Move (Theresa, 1983) Blue Autumn (Theresa, 1983) With Gary Bartz Episode One: Children of Harlem (Challenge, 1994) With Cindy Blackman Arcane (Muse, 1987) With Carla Bley Night-Glo (Watt/ECM, 1985) Sextet (Watt/ECM, 1987) With Blood, Sweat, and Tears New Blood (Columbia, 1972) With Louis Hayes Nightfall (SteepleChase, 1991) With Jimmy Heath Peer Pleasure (Landmark, 1987) With Joe Henderson Multiple (Milestone, 1973) With Groove Holmes American Pie (Groove Merchant, 1972) With Clifford Jordan The Mellow Side of Clifford Jordan (Mapleshade, 1989-91 [1997]) With Robin Kenyatta Gypsy Man (Atlantic, 1973) With Hugh Masekela Grrr (uncredited) (1966) Reconstruction (1970) Home Is Where the Music Is (1978) Main Event Live (1978) Almost Like Being in Jazz (2005) Friends (2012) With Jackie McLean Right Now! (Blue Note, 1965) Jacknife (Blue Note, 1965) With Carmen McRae Carmen Sings Monk (1988) With Lee Morgan Infinity (Blue Note, 1965) With Alphonse Mouzon The Essence of Mystery (Blue Note, 1972) With David "Fathead" Newman Still Hard Times (Muse, 1982) With Valery Ponomarev Trip to Moscow (Reservoir, 1987) With Woody Shaw For Sure! (Columbia, 1979) With Steve Swallow Carla (Xtra Watt, 1987) With Buddy Terry Lean on Him (Mainstream, 1973) With Norris Turney Big, Sweet 'n Blue – with Turney, Walter Booker, and Jimmy Cobb (Mapleshade, 1993) With Fred Lipsius Dreaming of Your Love (mja Records,1995) With C. I. Williams When Alto Was King (Mapleshade, 1997) As co-leader With Heads of State Search for Peace – with Buster Williams, Al Foster, and Gary Bartz (Smoke Sessions, 2015)