Jack Scarangella carries a truly extensive resume. He has played with The Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere, The Fabulous Rhinestones, Richie Havens, Treasure, Blood, Sweat, and Tears & David Clayton Thomas, Laura Nyro, Aztec Two-Step, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Cissy Houston, Luther Vandross, Joe Farrell, and Leslie West - just to name a few. Jack also has two self-titled CDs - ‘The Hero In Us All’, and ‘Sacred Angel’.
“I miss Tony, such a creative mind, and so musical on the drums… The way it’s supposed to be.”
-- Jack Scarangella
“I first met Tony Williams when we were rehearsing in adjoining rooms at Montana Studios in New York City. Each time we visited, the spiritual aspect of Tony Williams as both a player and a man became evident. Tony was a special individual who emphasized the ‘play what you feel’ approach. His words were real and essential truths…powerful and profound. When our rehearsal times had ended, Tony even signed a New York Yankees baseball for me. Thankfully, we were able to stay in touch over the years.
Tony Williams was also a big Buddy Rich fan. At the Grammy awards Steve Peck, Buddy’s tour manager said, Tony was beaming at Buddy from behind the stage. Miles Davis also claimed that Buddy was a ‘prince of a drummer’ and that “there isn’t a drummer alive who doesn’t have a Buddy Rich lick in them”.
Going back, I remember how ‘Miles Smiles’ blew my mind… Tony’s cymbal work was both amazing and beautiful. ‘Miles in the Sky’, - The Tony Williams Lifetime which was ‘pure unity’ -- his gorgeous last album ‘Wilderness’ - and pretty much anything Tony has ever played on.
His circular abstract motions had all the colors of the rainbow rushing straight to your senses. A player like him comes along once in a generation. In 1997, I was shocked and saddened when I heard that Tony had died at of a heart attack at age 51. He left us much too soon… Tony Williams had a lot more to say.
“I treasure this picture that Tony Williams signed for me… I believe he was four or five maybe? Anyway, I love this photo of Tony my friend -- R.I.P.”
-- Jack Scarangella
