Results for "Lori Williams"

Lori Williams

Born: January 22

Lori A. Williams (born January 22, 1967) is an American Jazz Vocalist from Washington, DC. She is the mother of two children (Lauren V. Highsmith and Yusef K. Chisholm). Lori has recorded two CDs (Healing Within - 2010 and Eclipse of the Soul - 2012).

Biographical sketch: Lori Williams continues to reside in the Washington Metropolitan area and teaches vocal music in the DC Public Schools System. She also teaches private vocal instruction, performs and records for various recording sessions as a solo artist and for other recording artists.

Education: Lori Williams attended Hampton University (HU) and received a BA in Mass Media Communications in 1988. She is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society and Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. At Hampton University, Lori pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Gamma Iota Chapter) in 1986. After graduating from HU, Lori attended Trinity College and The University of the District of Columbia focusing on Music Education. Lori has received numerous awards recognizing her skills as a performer and educator. Her most notable recognition is a letter from Vice President Joseph Biden acknowledging her stellar performance at the 2013 Frederick Douglass Statue Dedication Ceremony at the US Capital. She has also received a Senate Citation from The Maryland General Assembly on behalf of Maryland State Senator Anthony Muse for her contributions and commitment to the arts as a jazz vocalist, instructor and educator. Also she received the 2007 Superintendent's Arts Teacher of the Year and the 2010 Vincent E. Reed Teacher of the Year.Career: As a high school student, Lori began her search for her musical style. It was at Hampton University where she discovered her passion for vocal jazz under the direction of Professors Dr. Effie Gardner and Robert Ransom. Lori was the Jazz Program Director for her college radio station, WHOV-FM and often performed in the Tidewater area for events. Lori also entered the Budweiser Showdown (winning 2nd place) and appeared on 'Showtime At The Apollo' during her tenure at HU. Lori Williams lived in Japan in the early 90's. It was there where she had the opportunity to record background vocals for commercial and artist sessions. She also directed the Sagamihara Gospel Choir and performed with Eli Saitoh and The Love Tambourines. Upon returning stateside, Lori has had the honor of performing with many national artists (studio session and live performance). She has recorded with The Blackbyrds, Sherry Winston, Maysa, Lloyd Price, Allyn Johnson and Divine Order, Saltman Knowles, and others. She also has performed in musical theatre productions in the Washington, DC area and Atlanta, GA. In 2010, Lori Williams released her debut CD - Healing Within. And in 2012, she released her sophomore project - Eclipse of the Soul. Lori continues to perform as a solo artist, recording session artist, and background vocalist for many international musicians (working with artists like Phil Perry, Terri Lynne Carrington, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Oleta Adams, Yolanda Adams and Vesta Williams). She also travels to Europe as a clinician and performs in jazz festivals in the US and abroad. JazzTimes calls her "a dynamic presence throughout, offering exquisite wordless vocals."

Lori Williams with the Jimmy Masters Trio at the Sandler Center

by Mark Robbins
September 11, 2023

Bassist Jimmy Masters has hosted and curated the TowneBank jazz series (formerly the Miller Jazz Series) at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts since its inception in 2017. Running from June to September, the series has offered a different theme each month played in a cabaret style setting. The 2023 season began a couple of ...

Lori Williams and the John Toomey Trio at Old Dominion University

by Mark Robbins
May 7, 2022

Lori Williams, music educator, producer, song writer, actress, fabulous jazz and soul vocalist culminated a long weekend at Old Dominion University of master classes and performances with the jazz choir and jazz orchestra with a sold out Monday night show with the John Toomey Trio. Williams is making quite a name for herself in the soul-jazz ...

Jazz Goes to the Movies and Valentine's Day Singles

by Mary Foster Conklin
February 17, 2020

This week we feature new releases from The Coachella Valley Trio, trumpeter Rachel Therrien, pianists Lisa Hilton and Carol Albert, vocalists Robin McKelle, Kaylé Brecher, and Raquel Cepeda, plus Valentine's Day singles from Sue Maskaleris and Cynthia Scott, with birthday shout outs to Carole King, Michika Fukumori and Carmen Staaf, among others. There are also plenty ...

My Dear Acquaintance - A Happy New Year

by Mary Foster Conklin
January 17, 2020

My last broadcast of the decade included several women-penned songs for New Years Eve, with new releases by Boogaloo Joe Jones, Kris Davis and Cathy Segal-Garcia, plus birthday shout outs to Cab Calloway, Una Mae Carlisle, Chris McNulty, Katie Bull, Annie Lennox and Janice Friedman, among others. Also remembering those artists lost in 2019 with a ...

Here Is The Best Part - You Have a Jazz Heart

by Mary Foster Conklin
September 26, 2019

The final August broadcast included new releases from saxophonists Houston Person and Roxy Coss, pianist Eliane Elias, and The Time Flies featuring Monika Herzig, with birthday shout outs to Dorothy Parker, Carolyn Leigh (pictured), Jimmy Rowles, Wayne Shorter, Mimi Fox and Linda May Han Oh, among others. Also a preview of who was playing in NYC ...

Popsicle Illusion and Sweet Summer Love

by Mary Foster Conklin
September 7, 2019

This midsummer broadcast Included new releases from vocalists Lori Williams, Barb Jungr and Lisa Rich, pianists George Cables, Hiroe Sekine, and a 10th anniversary reissue from bassist John Miller, with birthday shout outs to Jazz Masters Annie Ross and Joanne Brackeen, plus vocalists Lainie Cooke, Janis Siegel, Nnenna Freelon, Karrin Allyson and Carla Hassett, among others. ...

Songs to Aging Children Come

by Mary Foster Conklin
February 23, 2019

This week we celebrate new releases by vocalist Cyrille Aimee, pianist Betty Bryant, saxophonist Jazmin Ghent and we give a look at some interesting old and new duets of songs by Joni Mitchell, including a new single by Carol Lipnik and Rachelle Garniez in the final hour. Then some shout outs to Barbara Carroll, Etta James, ...

Big Noise New York

by Mary Foster Conklin
February 2, 2019

The first broadcast of 2019 included a preview of some of the many artists performing in New York at the Winter Jazzfest and APAP annual convention, with new releases by Simone Kopmajer, Something Blue and Stacy Sullivan, plus birthday shout outs to Myra Melford, Carol Sudhalter, James Shipp, and vocalist Christine Tobin, among others.

Joni Mitchell Turns 75; Remembering Roy Hargrove

by Mary Foster Conklin
December 1, 2018

This post-election broadcast celebrates the new wave of women in the House and Senate -also remembering Roy Hargrove (1969-2018) in the second hour plus a special 75th birthday tribute to Joni Mitchell in the third hour. Playlist Roxy Coss “Nevertheless She Persisted" from The Future Is Female (Posi-Tone) 00:00 Ethel Ennis “If Women Ruled ...