The innovative New Trier West Recording Jazz Ensemble (1966-1980) founded by Roger Mills had a profound influence on my development as a musician. From age 14 - 17, I played piano in the band (1974-78). You can stream our albums as well as learn about other band members and their life in music. The January 2023 issue of Downbeat magazine looks back at the band’s beginnings.
My time in the band and formative years here >
Our album from 1978 >
Our album from 1977 >
The Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra of Los Angeles selected Camille as a finalist for their 2021-2022 Season.
Camille was composed in 2010 and is a three movement piece for flute, alto saxophone, violin, cello and piano 4-hands.
The piece was originally composed for the Rome-based ensemble Piccola Accademia delgi Specchi and appears on the album Collision Point.
Listen to Camille >
Host of The New Edge, Ken Fields, talks with William Susman about his 2019 album Collision Point and plays tracks from the pieces Camille and Clouds and Flames. They also discuss influences, musical background and the album Fate of the Lhapa. Tune-in Tuesday, November 17 from 2-4 p.m. at WMBR 88.1 FM, Boston, MA.
Host Hilary Robertson talks with William Susman about Octet Ensemble’s album Scatter My Ashes, his background in jazz performance starting with early influences and the band’s unique instrumentation in the world of contemporary classical music. In addition they talk about how the pieces came about and the musicians in the group. Other topics include how technology has created new musical relationships and new ways to record music.
An interview about the album Scatter My Ashes on WGXC The Jazz Disturbance with host Cheryl K including a discussion about the label Belarca Records, Octet Ensemble, and the poetry of Sue Susman (the composer’s sister), as well as American popular music, and the harmonic and rhythmic influences from Jazz and Afro-Cuban music.
Belarca Records presents Collision Point a new album by American composer William Susman and Rome-based ensemble Piccola Accademia degli Specchi celebrating a 10-year collaboration. The album features music inspired by love, loss, redemption, and the writings of Allen Ginsberg, Colum McCann and Francis Bacon. Checkout the album trailer and ways to listen. Available October 11, 2019.
Renown French pianist Vanessa Wagner (Victoire de la Musique) releases INLAND, a mesmerizing solo piano album on the acclaimed label Inifné. She recorded a stunningly beautiful interpretation of "Quiet Rhythms no. 9" in addition to music by Moondog, Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Bryce Dessner, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Michael Nyman, Hans Otte, Nico Muhly, Gavin Bryars, Wim Mertens, and Pēteris Vasks.
Belarca Records releases Blackbird Redux featuring Patricia Wolf Zuber, flute and Greg Zuber, marimba January 18, 2018. The album is a program of 20th and 21st century music from four countries on four continents by Gareth Farr, Olivier Messiaen, William Susman, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Watch the album trailer.
Fordlandia, a family drama about the tragic struggle between Henry Ford and his son, Edsel, over the leadership and future of Ford Motor Company and their wives who save it from ruin, was selected for the Fort Worth Opera Frontiers Showcase. May 2 & 3, 2018. Frontiers 2018 press release.
