Stu Williamson was a gorgeous trumpeter and valve trombonist. His smooth tone and ease with which he played and soloed landed him in the Hollywood studios in the 1950s. Born in Brattleboro, Vt., Williamson moved to Los Angeles in 1949. Sadly, he struggled with drug addiction for much of his career. The younger brother of West Coast pianist Claude Williamson, Stu Williamson died in 1991 at age 58.
Williamson played on just one album with baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams. Recorded on July 10, 1957 for the Mode label, Pepper Adams Quintet featured Pepper Adams (bs), Stu Williamson (tp, except on My One and Only Love), Carl Perkins (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b) and Mel Lewis (d).
The songs were Unforgettable; Baubles, Bangles and Beads; Adams's Freddie Froo; My One and Only Love and Adams's Muezzin'. I love this album for its contrasts between the muscular Adams and the feathery Williamson dancing brightly on notes during solos.
Here's the complete Pepper Adams Quintet without ad interruptions...
Williamson played on just one album with baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams. Recorded on July 10, 1957 for the Mode label, Pepper Adams Quintet featured Pepper Adams (bs), Stu Williamson (tp, except on My One and Only Love), Carl Perkins (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b) and Mel Lewis (d).
The songs were Unforgettable; Baubles, Bangles and Beads; Adams's Freddie Froo; My One and Only Love and Adams's Muezzin'. I love this album for its contrasts between the muscular Adams and the feathery Williamson dancing brightly on notes during solos.
Here's the complete Pepper Adams Quintet without ad interruptions...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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