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Buster Williams

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Hampton Hawes, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Errol Garner, Kenny Barron, Charlie Rouse, Dakota Staton, Kenny Dorham, and Freddie Hubbard, to name a few.

Mr. Williams has recorded soundtracks for movies including Les Choix des Armes; McKenna’s Gold with Gregory Peck; David Lynch’s, Twin Peaks ”Fire Walk With Me”; Spike Lee’s Clockers, and more. Television commercials include Coca-Cola, Old Spice, Tott’s Champagne, Prudential Insurance, Chemical Bank, Alpo Dog Food, HBO, and Budweiser Beer. TV shows include an appearance on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show, with Errol Garner; and the Jay Leno Tonight Show, where he performed five of his original compositions with the Branford Marsalis Tonight Show Band. Other television shows include Sesame Street, with Joe Williams; A&E (Arts and Entertainment), with Bill Cosby; The Joan Rivers Show, with Bill Cosby; The Andy Williams Show, with Nancy Wilson; the Joey Bishop Show; the Grammy Awards, with Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Bobby McFerrin; the Mike Douglas Show; the Today Show; etc.

Awards include a Grammy in 1979; the Min-On Art Award; the SGI Glory Award the SGI Cultural Award; the RVC Corporation RCA Best Seller Award; NEA recipient; New York Fellowship Grant; 5 Stars from Downbeat magazine for the album Crystal Reflections , listed in Who’s Who in Black America; and numerous proclamations.

Charles Anthony Williams, Jr. (nickname: Buster) was born in Camden, New Jersey on April 17, 1942. His mother, Gladys worked as a seamstress and his father, Charles Anthony Williams, Sr. (nick-name: Cholly), a bassist, worked various day jobs to support his five children, and at night played gigs to support his musical spirit. “He would prepare my lessons for me,” Buster recalls, ” and when I got home from school I was supposed to practice, then he would listen while he was eating his dinner. It was an unwritten law that I had to play it right or hear about it. I was going to be the best. I had no choice. In those days, instead of a two-car family, we were a two bass family. My father was a fan of Slam Stewart, and he strung his basses the way Slam did. Instead of the regular G-D-AE, he strung a high C; i.e., C-G-D-A. Adding the C string puts the playing of higher-pitched passages at a more comfortable position. He told me, ‘If I re-string my bass for you, you’d better be serious!'”

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30
Album Review

Noah Haidu: Standards

Read "Standards" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Forty years after the renowned Standards Trio comprised of Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette released its debut album, Standards, Vol. 1, New York-based pianist Noah Haidu pays his respects with a similarly named enterprise (sans volume number) featuring bassists Buster Williams or Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash, with saxophonist Steve Wilson making it a quartet on four numbers. The Standards Trio's body of work “brought me inspiration, solace and happiness," Haidu writes in the ...

2
Album Review

Noah Haidu: Standards

Read "Standards" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


A standard is defined as a musical composition that has become a part of the standard repetoire. The conventional wisdom suggests that this definition applies to popular songs of the twentieth century based on the premise that their popularity has lasted beyond the period of their initial publication. Pianist/composer Noah Haidu has taken this to heart on his persuasive album Standards. Accompanied by a cohort of acclaimed sidemen including bassists Buster Williams and Peter Washington, drummer ...

9
Album Review

Noah Haidu: Standards

Read "Standards" reviewed by Neil Duggan


In 1983, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette released the first of their album of standards, Standards Vol. 1 (ECM). The trio's harmonic ideas, insight and collective musicianship went on to become the benchmark for reworking these well- known American songs. Together they recorded 21 albums over three decades. Inspired by that trio's work and celebrating the 40th anniversary of that release, pianist & composer, Noah Haidu, has released Standards. He is joined by bassists Buster Williams ...

30
Album Review

Jeremy Pelt: The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 2/His Muse

Read "The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 2/His Muse" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's album, The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 2, is a hybrid: nearly one-half jazz quartet (quintet on one track), more than the other half quartet with strings. Strangely enough, the strings are nowhere listed on the album jacket, nor are Pelt's colleagues in his quartet. One has to read an accompanying press release from HighNote Records to learn that they are pianist Victor Gould, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart (with guitarist Chico Pinheiro added on the ...

15
Album Review

Steve Turre: Generations

Read "Generations" reviewed by Dave Linn


Generations is a wonderful exploration of the bop and post-bop era. Steve Turre both looks back to his roots while encouraging the next generation of musicians to find their voice. It's a position he's eminently qualified for, considering the artists he has played with and his tenure as a long-time jazz educator. Trombone players have a unique place in the sound created in a small jazz band. Their parts helped blend and define any given melody. On this ...

3
In Pictures

Buster Willams' Quartet at the Perry Pavilion

Read "Buster Willams' Quartet at the Perry Pavilion" reviewed by Mark Robbins


Bassist Buster Williams decided after 30 years as a side man to the greats to step up and present his own music and his own musical ideas. In 1990 he formed Something More and has traveled the world and the United States numerous times including the first international jazz festival in jny:Moscow. The Virginia Arts Festival hosted the latest version of Something More in the Perry Pavilion in downtown jny:Norfolk. Appearing with Williams was composer, educator, and multi award winning ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Kurt Elling, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio & Buster Williams

Read "Kurt Elling, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio & Buster Williams" reviewed by Joe Dimino


From legendary bassist Buster Williams, we stride into the 748th Episode of Neon Jazz. After Buster, we hear from his old friend, guitarist Larry Coryell. In that esteemed group of veterans, we also hear from the 95-year old guitarist George Freeman and a new song off his 2022 album Everybody Say Yeah. Along with old school songs, we hear new songs from Anna Laura Quinn, Kurt Elling, Delvon Lamarr and Ron Jackson. Finally, we hear music from a 1966 Norm ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Buster Williams' birthday today!

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, ...

4

Performance / Tour

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Announces Line-Up For April Jazz Appreciation Month

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Announces Line-Up For April Jazz Appreciation Month

Source: AMT Public Relations

Described as “the most genuine, congenial and best-run jazz club in the city (Huffington Post),” New York’s Smoke Jazz Club presents a stellar line-up of some of jazz’s greatest artists during April aka Jazz Appreciation Month. The month’s cornerstones are two album release concerts celebrating recordings on the club’s house label, Smoke Sessions: Buster Williams’s Unalome (Apr 13-16) and Wayne Escoffery’s Like Minds (Apr 20-23). Other highlights include octogenarian Eddie Henderson leading his quintet (Apr 6-9), and two stellar pianists: ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Buster Williams' birthday today!

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, ...

1

Performance / Tour

New Jersey Performing Arts Center Adds More Jazz Shows To 2021 Line-up Including Maria Schneider Orchestra, Buster Williams, Lillias White, And More

New Jersey Performing Arts Center Adds More Jazz Shows To 2021 Line-up Including Maria Schneider Orchestra, Buster Williams, Lillias White, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is welcoming live, in-person jazz back to its stage throughout 2021 beginning with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter (September 24). The TD Jazz Series continues in the Fall with “Salsa Meets Jazz” (September 25), saxophonist Boney James (October 14), and vocal powerhouse duo Tierney Sutton and Ann Hampton Calloway (October 15). Celebrating its 10th anniversary is the annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival showcasing an all-star lineup of the country’s best musicians, held ...

4

Performance / Tour

Strata-East At 50! June 16th With Narrator Danny Glover, Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White & Special Guests!

Strata-East At 50! June 16th With Narrator Danny Glover, Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White & Special Guests!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Strata-East Records celebrate 50 years of amazing Jazz on June 16th at 7:30pm EDT. Price: $20. Day of show $25. The performance will be available on-demand for 48 hours starting June 17th at 12:00 AM EDT. Strata-East @ 50 featuring Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White and special guest Danny Glover! Strata-East Records, now in its 50th year, was created by Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell. Their first recording in 1970, “Music Inc" & Big Band, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Buster Williams' birthday today!

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, ...

4

Recording

Charles Tolliver's 'Connect' Featuring Buster Williams, Lenny White And More! First Release In 13 Years!

Charles Tolliver's 'Connect' Featuring Buster Williams, Lenny White And More!  First Release In 13 Years!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

New York-based trumpeter, composer and educator Charles Tolliver presents Connect, his first studio album in 13 years. There's no title track on the new album from Charles Tolliver, but the name—Connect—isn't some ethereal abstraction: it's an invitation. Release date: July 31st. “I wanted the music to connect in these times," explains the trumpeter-composer, a 50-plus-year music veteran and the co-founder of the legendary 1970's jazz label Strata-East Records. “I'm asking the listener to get it: to get what I'm doing, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Buster Williams' birthday today!

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Buster Williams' birthday today!

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter... Read more.

Place our Musician of ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buster Williams

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Buster Williams' birthday today!

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter... Read more.

Place our Musician of ...

Photos

Concerts

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May 4 Sat
May 5 Sun
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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Standards II

Sunnyside Records
2024

buy

Unalome

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

buy

The Art of Intimacy,...

HighNote Records
2023

buy

Standards

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

Whatever: Anthology 1

Blue Buddha Productions
2023

buy

Generations

Smoke Sessions Records
2022

buy

Someone to Watch Over Me

From: Standards II
By Buster Williams

Beautiful Friendship

From: Standards
By Buster Williams

Tayamisha

From: Unalome
By Buster Williams

Been Down This Road Before

From: Been Down This Road Before
By Buster Williams

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