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BBC 30 min. documentary feature. BBC FEATURE)Check me out on National Public Radio (npr.org) and AllAboutJazz.com !
WATIV
WATIV is William A Thompson IV. A jazz pianist and composer who is most known for releasing the alblum "Baghdad Music Journal" while serving in Iraq as Army Counter Intelligence Agent. Will grew up in Mississippi and Louisiana where he was steeped in music. Most notability jazz music, as to follow a family tradition. However, this roots music has lead him to much sound art that need not be classified, a current example is the record Baghdad-Music-Journal-(recorded and released while William was serving in Iraq and currently available on itunes). William currently lives in Jackson, ms where he continues to perform write and seek harmony.
Iraq: William was there as an interrogator and counter Intelligence Agent with the US Army, subject to a "back door draft" known as stop-loss. While there he distinguished himself as the first artist in the history of music to release a body of work while still in a combat zone. The result is an album known as "Baghdad Music Journal.
The Story: The complexity of this story is impossible over to stress. One thing is for sure. There is a wealth of rich, interesting and important information in this story, which can be presented in a very personal way.
WATIV Baghdad Music Journal, which was recently released by the High Mayhem label of Santa Fe, NM.
Check Thompson out on NPR !
