The Billy Hart Quartet is led by drummer Billy Hart, NEA Jazz Master. Born November 29, 1940, in Washington, D.C., Hart has been at the forefront of creative music for over six decades, bringing a distinctive approach that balances power, subtlety, and deep swing.
Hart’s resume reads like a history of jazz itself. He came up playing with Shirley Horn and Eddie Harris before joining the Wes Montgomery Trio in the mid-1960s. From there, he worked with Herbie Hancock’s groundbreaking Mwandishi band, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Stan Getz, Pharoah Sanders, and countless others.
The Billy Hart Quartet features some of the most accomplished musicians of the post-bop generation. Hart on drums is joined by saxophonist Mark Turner, pianist Ethan Iverson, and bassist Ben Street.
The quartet has recorded several acclaimed albums for ECM Records, including All Our Reasons and One Is the Other. Their live performances are known for extended improvisations, subtle group interplay, and Hart’s ability to shape the music with a master’s touch from behind the drums.