© Andrea Canter
These days, a conversation with 92-year-old Irv Williams
might go something like this: “Hey Irv, are you really retiring?” “Who said
retire? I just said I’m tired!” The only thing quicker than his wit is Irv’s
musical mind, which has been entertaining Twin Citians since the U.S. Navy
brought the Cincinnati
native here as a sax and clarinet player during Word War II. During his 80s, when
most would truly retire from any physically taxing activity, Irv seemed to rev
up his career, releasing one glorious CD after another, each of which was
dubbed “my final recording.” He even titled one Finality. Then came another. Lovingly referred to as Mr. Smooth for
his lush tone and style on tenor sax, Irv celebrated 90 and kept going, often
on the Dakota bandstand for Friday night Happy Hour with long-time duo partner
Peter Schimke. Last spring, he released Duke’s
Mixture at a celebration at the Dakota described as his “Retirement Party.”
Last night, he headed a quartet at… his Retirement Party, again at the Dakota.
Is this for real this time? Irv has overcome a range of
health problems in the past 20 years… or rather he has worked around them,
inspite of them, or maybe even because of life’s challenges. I chatted with him before the gig began last
night. “So, are you really retiring?” “Oh, I think I might have a comeback in a
few weeks,” he smiled. “Would that be
your longest retirement yet?” He could only laugh. And then he began to blow,
as sweetly as ever, in the company of Schimke, Billy Peterson and Gary Gauger.
They started with “I Hear a Rhapsody” and “Alone Together,” moved south of the
border with “Gentle Rain,” bopped along with “East of the Sun/West of the Moon,”
Irv never missing a cadenza, a soulful phrase, or a fast articulation. He must
have been pacing himself, starting the second set with “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “You
Don’t Know What Love Is,” and “In a Mellow Tone” (which of course could be his
theme song) before vocalist Tommy Tipton came on stage to salute Irv with a
heartfelt, seemingly final song, “Wonderful World.”
But Irv was not done with this set, moving into “Softly As
In a Morning Sunrise,” giving bassist and longtime friend Billy Peterson plenty
of room to stop the house chatter with an extended solo. (The old adage that
you can tell when it’s the bass solo because everyone starts talking seems to
hit a brick wall when Billy launches a solo.) When the quartet started an emotive “Here’s to Life,” I’m sure many of
us figured this was a perfect ending to the evening. Irv thought otherwise. He next
called a blues, then announced the band was taking a short break before
returning for a third set.
It was 10:15. We were drained. Time to go. He’s got thirty
years on me but I can’t keep up with Irv Williams.
I guess he will retire when he stops playing.
Photos (top to bottom): Irv Williams at the Dakota; Lowell Pickett and Irv Williams; Irv and the quartet; Irv at the Dakota. (all photos by Andrea Canter on May 14, 2012 at the Dakota "Retirement" Party)
