Jazz Articles about Joe Williams

like 178

Joe Williams: Nothin' But The Blues

by Ed Kopp
August 1, 1999

I was bummed after hearing of Joe Williams' death in early April. A sophisticated big band singer best known for his work with Count Basie, Williams was also an admirer of the great blues shouter Joe Turner. Williams tackles some Turner-style material on this 1983 CD featuring Jack McDuff (organ), Red Holloway (tenor sax), Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (sax and vocals), Phil Upchurch (guitar) and Ray Brown (bass). These veteran soul-jazzers swing out in soulful fashion and inspire some of the ...

like 172

Joe Williams: At Newport '63 / Jump for Joy

by Joel Roberts
May 1, 1998

This valuable reissue from Collectables brings together two complete Williams albums from 1963, originally recorded for RCA, on one 73-minute CD.

Newport '63 captures the longtime Basie vocalist leading a red hot festival jam session that includes Clark Terry and Howard McGhee on trumpets, and a pair of pretty fair tenor players, Zoot Sims and Coleman Hawkins. The informal, loosely swingin' set, recorded in front of a loud and appreciative audience, features such well-known Williams blues and gospel-tinged fare as ...