James Williams (musician)
Encyclopedia
James Williams was an American jazz pianist.
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
. In 1999 he became director of jazz studies at William Paterson University
, where he remained until his death of liver cancer
in 2004.
Blues band Lady Dottie and the Diamonds dedicated their debut album Livin' it up (2007) to the memory of James Williams.
With Art Famer
With Tom Harrell
With Karyn Allison
Biography
Williams began playing piano at age 13, and served as the organistOrgan (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
at the Eastern Star Baptist Church
Eastern Star Baptist Church
Eastern Star Baptist Church is a historic church at Church and Wagner Streets in Tarboro, North Carolina.It was built in 1875 and added to the National Register in 1980....
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
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, also playing with Alan Dawson
Alan Dawson
Alan Dawson was a respected jazz drummer and widely influential percussion teacher based in Boston. He was born in Marietta, Pennsylvania and raised in Roxbury, MA. Serving in the Army for Korean War duty, Dawson played with the Army Dance Band while stationed at Fort Dix from 1951-1953...
's group alongside visiting musicians such as Milt Jackson
Milt Jackson
Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
, Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, and Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
. His first album as a leader arrived in 1977, and in 1978 he joined Art Blakey
Art Blakey
Arthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
's Jazz Messengers, remaining there for four years.
He moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the early 1980s, playing with Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Freddie Hubbard
Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on...
, and Kenny Burrell
Kenny Burrell
Kenneth Earl "Kenny" Burrell is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is grounded in bebop and blues; he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.-Biography:...
, and formed his own group, the Intensive Care Unit, with Christian McBride
Christian McBride
Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist. His father, Lee Smith, and his great uncle, Howard Cooper, are well known Philadelphia bassists who served as McBride's early mentors...
, Bill Pierce
Bill Pierce
Bill Pierce is an American jazz saxophonist.He played with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in the early 1980s and in Tony Williams's quintet in the mid-1980s to early 1990s...
, and Tony Reedus
Tony Reedus
Tony Reedus was an American jazz drummer.Reedus first gained notice playing in Woody Shaw's band in the 1980s...
. In 1999 he became director of jazz studies at William Paterson University
William Paterson University
William Paterson University is a comprehensive public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: , , , , and ....
, where he remained until his death of liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
in 2004.
Blues band Lady Dottie and the Diamonds dedicated their debut album Livin' it up (2007) to the memory of James Williams.
As leader
- 1982: The James Williams Trio The Arioso Touch Concord Jazz
- 1987: The Magical Trio 1 , Emarcy with Ray BrownRay Brown (musician)Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
, Art BlakeyArt BlakeyArthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.... - 1987: The Magical Trio 2 , Emarcy, with Ray BrownRay Brown (musician)Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
, Elvin JonesElvin JonesElvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan.... - 1989: Meet the Magical Trio, Emarcy
- 1991: Up to the Minute Blues, DIW, Sextett with Joe HendersonJoe HendersonJoe Henderson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than forty years Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note.-Early life:From a very large family with five sisters and nine...
- 1991: James Williams Meets the Saxophone Masters, DIW, with Joe HendersonJoe HendersonJoe Henderson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than forty years Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note.-Early life:From a very large family with five sisters and nine...
, George ColemanGeorge ColemanGeorge Edward Coleman is an American hard bop saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s.-Biography:...
, and Bill PierceBill PierceBill Pierce is an American jazz saxophonist.He played with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in the early 1980s and in Tony Williams's quintet in the mid-1980s to early 1990s... - 1994: Truth, Justice & Blues, Intensive Care Unit Evidence Music
- 1998: We've Got What You Need, Intensive Care Unit, Evidence Music
As sideman
With Art BlakeyArt Blakey
Arthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
- One by One (Palcoscenico RecordsPalcoscenico Records-Discography:*15001: Gaetano Liguori - Terzo Mondo*15002: George Adams & Don Pullen- All That Funk *15003: George Adams & Don Pullen - More Funk...
) - Straight Ahead at Keystone Korner, San Franscisco, June 1981 – (Concord CJ-168)
- In This Korner (at Keystone Korner, San Franscisco, 1978?) – (Concord CJ-68)
- Album of the Year (Paris, 4/12/81) – (Timeless SJP 155)
- Art Blakey in Sweden (Stockholm, 3/9/81) – (Amigo AMLP 839)
With Art Famer
- Art Farmer: PH.D (4/89) (Concord CCD-14055-2) w/Art Farmer, Clifford Jordan, Kenny Burrell, James Williams, Rufus Reid, Marvin “Smitty” Smith.
With Tom Harrell
Tom Harrell
Tom Harrell is a renowned American post-bop jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer and arranger.-Biography:Tom Harrell was born in Urbana, Illinois but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area at the age of five. He started playing trumpet at eight and within five years, started playing gigs with...
- Sail Away (Contemporary CCD 14054 and Contemporary CCD 14054-2)
- Visions (Contemporary CCD 14063-2)
With Karyn Allison
- Ballads - Remembering John Coltrane(Concord Jazz CCD-4950-2)