Podcast 813: A Conversation with Bill Cunliffe - Part Two

Podcast 813 completes my two-part conversation with pianist Bill Cunliffe, whose latest release, Trio features bassist John Patitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta joining him for a set of standards.  Bill had two master musicians as mentors during his formative years - drummer Buddy Rich, who became one of his first employers, and pianist Mary Lou Williams, his teacher at Duke University. I couldn't let our talk end without asking Bill for some stories about both, and he does not disappoint in this podcast.  We also talk about his students and music education at Cal State, and how he sees the state of music education today.