Bill Pierce is an excellent saxophonist who also works as an educator. He started off his career in Boston playing R&B with such stars as
Stevie Wonder and
Marvin Gaye. However, he is essentially a hard bop player, as he showed during stints with
James Williams (1979-1980 and 1984-1985) and a high-profile association with
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1980-1982); with the latter he shared the front line with
Wynton Marsalis and
Bobby Watson. From 1986-1994,
Pierce was a regular member of
Tony Williams' quintet, somehow making himself heard over the leader's very loud drumming. He has led several of his own dates for Sunnyside. ~ Scott Yanow