on WATER BABIES who is W. Process

[Guest ariceffron]

all the songs are by w. shorter and then the last one is w. process---who is that

[jazzbo]

I always assumed the first name was "Written."

[Kari S]

Tony Williams?

[BFrank]

Tony Williams?

I believe that is true.

[JSngry]

The following is a letter-to-the-editor from Michael Cuscuna to JAZZ MAGAZINE, the Fall 1977 issue, pg. 10 (bracketed statement is an editor's note]. The different spellings of Tillmon/Tillman appear in the letter as published.

To the editor:

One correction on the review of Miles Davis' "Water Babies." The final piece on the record is Dear Mr. Tillmon Anthony Williams Process by Miles Davis. He was not ashamed of it and approved it. The record identifies the title as Dual Mr. Tillman Anthony (sic), and credits it to one "W. Process." [in his review in Vol. 1, No. 4, Sy Johnson wondered whether Mr. Process might be a Miles Davis who for some reason might want to hide his authorship]. The tune title was listed in the CBS files as such:

Dear Mr. Tillman Anthony

William Process

So someone carelessly assumed that the top line was the complete title and that it was written by William (sic) Process. That is why it was listed as such on the album. Merely a clerical mistake.

And thanks for a lovely article on Dexter.

Michael Cuscuna

New York

No explanation as to the Dear/Dual discrepancy, but hey, I didn't write the letter.