Tony Williams (1945–1997) was a prodigious jazz drummer who revolutionised the rhythmic vocabulary of modern jazz.Tony Williams
A teenage sensation on the bebop scene, Williams was recruited by Miles Davis for his second quintet when he just turned 17. With a fresh new approach to his instrument, Williams created space, incorporated tempo changes and intricate polyrhythms, and created space whenever his bandmates needed to shine. Later, he explored jazz-rock, fusion, and avant-garde with his own ensemble, The Tony Williams Lifetime, and the V.S.O.P supergroup, and collaborated with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and John MacLaughlin.