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Samuel SavoirFaire Williams
Jazz Violin Hero / Recording Artist
About Me
Samuel “Savoirfaire” Williams is a
classically trained professional Jazz
Violinist based in Chicago, IL – Williams is
known throughout the industry as
“Savoirfaire Jazz Violinist”.
At the age of 5 years old as part of a
special group of Suzuki Violin child
prodigies of Betty Haag. Samuel
performed for the first time at Chicago’s
Orchestra Hall. This performance was
part of a public television broadcast. The
recital became an annual event for over
35 years, of which Samuel performed
with this group for five years.
Samuel continued to study the violin
while attending The Merit Music School
participating in various curriculum
offerings Music Theory, Youth Orchestras
(CYS, CYSO, Protégé, All City, All State)
and Private Violin instruction from Joseph
Williams in the Traditional Method.
Having exhibited a high level of
proficiency on the violin and strong
leadership skills Samuel was invited by
Conductor Frank Winkler to lead the
principal desk for the Viola Section for the
City Youth String ensemble at the age of
16. Samuel went on to receive the Merit
Music Grant to study Classical Viola with
Edward Adelson for a Summer at
Interlochen Music Camp.
It was at Interlochen that Samuel sat in
with Milt Jackson at a Jazz Workshop and
after speaking with Mr. Jackson changed
his musical focus to Jazz Violin. After
several years of struggling to find his
voice in Jazz. Samuel met Wynton
Marsalis while working as an Andy Fran
at Symphony Center and after performing
for him and mentioning his desire to
become a Professional Jazz Violinist, Mr.
Marsalis instructed him to study with Jazz
Violin Legend Johnny Frigo. Mr. Frigo was
not interested in Teaching but mentored
Samuel in the Jazz Tradition of allowing
Samuel to sit in with him at his local
performances.
During this period Samuel began
Classical Violin study with Violinist and
Composer Harold Geller who was a Violin
pupil of Ivan Galamian. Samuel continued
his Classical training with Richard Ferrin
Principal Violist for the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra. To pay for his
lessons Samuel “ Busked “ on the streets
of Chicago and while busking Legendary
Jazz Guitar Great Kenny Burrell invited
Samuel to work on a professional Bebop
performance at the Jazz Showcase with
Willie Pickens and Larry Grey.
In the year 2000, Samuel was voted into
the Chicago Chapter of the elite jazz
organization AACM for exhibiting
exemplary musical flexibility leading to
Samuel being referred to as Savoirfaire.
After releasing three independent Albums
of Live recordings, Savoirfaire was
discovered by Bob Koester owner of
Delmark Records and has received critical
acclaim internationally for his album
“Running Out of Time”(Delmark 562).
Savoirfaire continues to perform with his
group Savoirfaire Jazz Quartet and has
been invited to record for numerous
albums and International Jazz Festivals
worldwide most notably as a session
string player for Otis Clay, R Kelly. In
2005 Samuel was personally invited to
play an extra role as principal violinist
with his quartet “Renascent Strings” in
the movie “Proof “ (05) with Gwenyth
Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins a first in
the history of American film making.
Savoirfaire continues to trail blaze as a
composer, producer, and arranger
breaking down industry barriers by
integrating contemporary Jazz with other
forms of music such as Hip Hop, Rock,
and World Music.
For more about Samuel “Savoirfaire”
Williams the Savoirfaire Jazz Violinist,
please reference his official article on
Wikipedia # 312 973 6024
