Results for "James Williams"

James Williams

James Williams was an American jazz pianist. Williams began playing piano at age 13, and served as the organist at the Eastern Star Baptist Church in Memphis for six years early in his career. He attended Memphis State University, where he began playing jazz. In 1973 he became a faculty member at the Berklee College of Music, also playing with Alan Dawson's group alongside visiting musicians such as Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, and Sonny Stitt. His first album as a leader arrived in 1977, and in 1978 he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, remaining there for four years. He moved to New York City in the early 1980s, playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and Kenny Burrell, and formed his own group, the Intensive Care Unit, with Christian McBride, Bill Pierce, and Tony Reedus

Mark Ruffin: Bebop Fairy Tales

By SETON HAWKINS

Celebrating 40 years as a jazz broadcaster, music producer, and writer this year, Mark Ruffin--perhaps best known as the program director for the Real Jazz channel on SiriusXM --stands as one of jazz's unsung heroes. Countless artists owe their career successes and prominence to his tireless efforts, boundless enthusiasm and advocacy, and encyclopedic knowledge of the ...

Frank Tiberi, Joe Lovano and George Garzone: Tiberian Mode

By JIM WORSLEY

While the three tenor saxophone soloists with piano, bass, and drums was already a proven sextet formula, the Tiberian Mode is one of vast reproportioning and accelerated creativity. Led by big band divinity Frank Tiberi and two of his disciples, George Garzone, and Joe Lovano, the project unleashes power, vigor, and contrasting jazz sensibilities.

March Birthdays Including Nat Cole & Lennie Tristano Centennials

By MARC COHN

We've got a nice slug of celebrants to honor in addition to our 'centennialins.' Our best wishes go out to Bill Frisell (playing here with Andrew Cyrille and Wadada Leo Smith), Joe Locke, Charles Lloyd, and Roy Haynes (backing Sarah Vaughan). A very special shout out to Jessica Williams! Enjoy the show! Playlist Joe ...

The Brian McCarthy Quartet At FlynnSpace

By DOUG COLLETTE

The Brian McCarthy Quartet FlynnSpace Burlington, Vermont December 2, 2017 A performance in recognition of the release of its album Codex (Self Produced, 2017), The Brian McCarthy Quartet effectively transposed the sparse, spacious quality of the recording to this intimate venue adjacent to the Queen City's Performing Arts Center. In ...

Bill Anschell: Curiosity and Invention

By PAUL RAUCH

Bill Anschell strikes me as a man with boundless curiosity. You perceive this in conversation, in his sense of humor, the patient manner in which he listens on and off the bandstand. You sense it in his inventive compositions, the rhythmic complexity, and the musical conception that lyrically imprints an authentic sense of melody. His work ...

Remembering Art Farmer

By LAZARO VEGA

This interview was first published at All About Jazz in November 1999 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material. This interview was originally broadcast at the time on Blue Lake Public Radio; portions of this interview appeared in an advance article published by the Grand Rapids Press. Lazaro ...

Steve LaSpina Quartet at William Paterson University

By DAVID A. ORTHMANN

Steve LaSpina Quartet William Paterson University Summer Jazz Room Wayne, NJ July 23, 2015 At William Paterson University, jazz is taken seriously. Undergraduate and graduate courses are taught by some of the most distinguished names in the business, and the music is presented to the public with care and ...

Freddie Jones: Game On!

By NICHOLAS F. MONDELLO

Dallas-based trumpeter, composer, producer and educator/clinician, Freddie Jones is one busy musician--especially on certain Sundays. He has the honor of performing our National Anthem before every Dallas Cowboys home game. In addition to actively freelancing and recording, he teaches and devotes countless hours with his efforts for a wonderful music education charity he founded, Trumpets4Kids.