Sphere (American band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jazz music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Ben Riley, Charlie Rouse |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Jazz albums |
Sphere was a jazz ensemble from the United States, established in 1977 as an homage to pianist Thelonious Monk, whose given middle name was "Sphere". The founding members comprised pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Buster Williams, alongside two musicians who had previously played with Monk: drummer Ben Riley and saxophonist Charlie Rouse. Following Rouse's passing in 1988, the group dissolved but later regrouped in 1997 with Gary Bartz stepping in for Rouse.
The band's first album, consisting of Monk's compositions, was recorded on February 17, 1982—the same day Monk passed away. Sphere produced multiple albums blending classic jazz standards with original pieces. As noted by Riley, the combination of artists who had direct experience with Monk and those who did not fostered a vibrant environment that preserved the music's vitality and allowed for fresh interpretations consistent with Monk’s artistic intent.
Discography
- 1982: Four in One (Elektra/Musician)
- 1983: Flight Path (Elektra/Musician)
- 1985: Sphere On Tour (Red Records)
- 1986: Pumpkin's Delight (Red), which includes all tracks from Live at Umbria Jazz (Red)
- 1987: Four for All (Verve Records)
- 1988: Bird Songs (Verve)
- 1997: Sphere (Verve)