Drumming star Billy Ward takes a step away from sessions with the likes of BB King ("80") in this instrumental jazz guitar trio album that features memorable, lovely songs and passionate playing.

11 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz

Show all album songs: Out the Door Songs


Details:
This trio represents a true fusion of three talented musicians playing great Barry Coates songs with a perfect balance of aggression and sensitivity. The members are:

Bill Urmson (bass guitar)

Bassist Bill Urmson is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, and has studied with bassists Miroslav Vitous and Jeff Berlin, guitarist Mick Goodrick, and saxaphonist Jerry Bergonzi.

Over the last 25 years Bill has toured the US, Europe and Japan,
appearing and recording with many artists, including George Russell,
The Gil Evans Monday Night Orchestra, Charles Blenzig, Rachel Z, Joe Beck, Guitarist Prasanna, Brian Ales, Rich Shemaria, Michael Gibbs, Roland Vazquez, Steve Slagle, Tiger Okoshi, T. Lavitz, Steve Tavaglione and Ian Wallace.

In the 1990's, He co-led the critically acclaimed Los Angeles-based group, Dark Horses with guitarist Barry Coates and drummers David Derge and Michael Barsimanto.


Barry Coates (guitar/guitar synth)

Born in Oakland, California and raised in San Rafael, Coates first attracted attention when he performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with the California All-star High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Oliver Nelson. After studying with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, through a full scholarship, he briefly attended College of Marin before transferring to North Texas State University, where he earned a Bachelorâs degree in music.

With his melodic, but expressive, approach, guitarist and synthesizer player Barry Coates has evolved into a highly sought after session player. His resume includes tours with the Pointer Sisters, Angela Bofill, Willie Bobo, John Klemmer, and Engelbert Humperdink. As a member of Japanese keyboardist/composer, Kitaroâs band, he toured the world twice and was featured on the live album, Live in America, released in 1991.

Coates has fared equally well on his own. His music was heard in such films as Dead Bang, Partners in Crime, and Fatal Attraction, and on television shows including Two on the Town, Eye on Hollywood, Partners in Crime, the Weather Channel and Playboy After Dark.

Together with his band Barry Coates & the Hats, Coates recorded two impressive albums- Because I Love You and Move Like A Dancer. He collaberated, on his third album, The Spirit Within, with bass player Jimmy Haslip of the Yellowjackets. Their compositions can be heard on this album as well as Luis Conteâs âBlack Forestâ
(a must have percussionist CD) and the Yellowjackets âThe Spinâ.

In 2003 Warner Bros published Jimmy and Barryâs guitar and bass instruction books titled Ultimate Play Along/Just Classic Jazz.

Billy Ward (drums)

As an educator, Billy has performed in clinics and master classes all over the world; including The Montreal Drum Festival, Rhythm In Bath (England), Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Cape Breton International Drum Festival (Nova Scotia), Drummer Live (England) and the most popular Modern Drummer Festival and more.
For five years, Billyâs been writing the much acclaimed âConceptâ articles for Modern Drummer Magazine and serves on MDâs advisory board. His book, âInside Out... Exploring The Mental Aspects Of Drummingâ and his instructional DVD film, titled âBig Timeâ is available through Hal Leonard Distributors. The drum instructional, Big Time, has a completely new, fresh approach and look and received the Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll Award for Best Drum Instructional of â05. Billy also was awarded the Eric A Bergquist Award for Excellence in Education in the Percussive Arts. A new instructional DVD titled âVoices in My Headâ will be released in July of â07.

As a performer, Billy Ward has been touring with singer Joan Osborne for more than six years. Last year, Billy played on B.B. Kingâs Grammy Award winning album, â80â. All told, Billy has played drums on more than 60 albums and 60 film soundtracks. His first solo album, âTwo Hands Clappingâ got a (perfect) 5 star rating in Modern Drummer and was called âalbum of the yearâ. In 2007, a new Bill Champlin (known through the band, Chicago and The Sons Of Champlin) album will be released that features Billy, along with Bruce Gaitsch and George Hawkins Jr. and (of course) the great Bill Champlin.

SELECTED TOURS:
Joan Osborne (99 - 06)
Bill Champlin (90 - current)
Yoko Ono (86 - 94)
Bill Evans Supergroup (86 - 88)
Ace Frehley (from âKissâ) (86)
The Knack (92)
Richard Marx (97 - 98)
George Russell and Living Time Orchestra (93 - 02)
Carly Simon (98)
Leni Stern (95)
Jimmy Webb (95 - 00)
Chris Whitley (92 - 95)

SELECTED ALBUM RECORDING CREDITS:
Billy Ward / Two Hands Clapping
B.B. King / 80
Robbie Robertson / Storyville
The Knack / Serious Fun & Greatest Hits
Leni Stern / Words
Amy Sky / Burnt By The Sun
Dar Williams / Mortal City
Bill Champlin / ...And He Started To Sing and Liâl Dreams
Carly Simon / Film Noir
Jim Beard / Lost At The Carnival & Truly
Bill Evans / Push
George Russell and Living Time Orchestra / Itâs About Time
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / That Thing You Do!
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / Under Siege
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / The Island Of Dr. Moreau

OTHER MEDIA:
Big Time DVD (written, produced and featuring Billy Ward) - distributed by Hal Leonard and produced by DrumPike.
Modern Drummer Festival 2000 DVD - produced by Hudson Music and distributed by Hudson/Hal Leonard
Inside Out - exploring the mental aspects of drumming BOOK - by Billy Ward. Published by Modern Drummer Publications and distributed by Hal Leonard.

MUSIC PRODUCTION:
Jon Albrink / Shimmer And Thrum â97
Stuffy Shmitt / Heart Above Water â98
Jimmy Webb / Clean And Narrow (film score) â00
Jon Albrink / Private Moon â06
The Goldbrickers / Heaven â06

SELECTED FILM SOUNDTRACKS:
Dead Bang /Perfect Weapon/The Walking Dead/Double Team/Sister Act
The Island Of Dr. Moreau/Sniper/The Specialist/Andersonville
The Substitute/Mi Vida Loca/Miami Blues/Under Siege/That Thing You Do!

QUOTES:
âBilly Ward has incredible energy for the band. Heâs got all the technique of the great drummers but heâs not âMr. Flashâ. Heâs got a lot of soul and heart in his playing.â
- Bill Evans, in DownBeat magazine â89

âIn a drumming world filled with highly touted so-so players, Ward is a certifiable monster - impressive chops, an incredibly solid feel, a vast knowledge of styles, and a true sense of touch (practically a lost art these days). Oh, and be sure to include Billyâs playful, gregarious personality on that list; it adds a sparkle to any music he touches.â - -Modern Drummer magazine â99