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DeutschJeff Williams (musician)
Jeff Williams | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jeffrey Lawrence Williams |
| Born | July 6, 1950 Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, educator |
| Instrument(s) | Drums |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Whirlwind |
| Website | willfulmusic |
Jeffrey Lawrence Williams (born July 6, 1950) is an American jazz drummer, composer, and educator.
Early life[edit]
Williams was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on July 6, 1950.[1] He grew up in Oberlin, Ohio.[1] His mother was a singer in the 1960s.[1] Williams began playing the drums, self-taught, at the age of seven and played professionally from his mid-teens.[1] From 1968, "he studied arranging and composition at the Berklee School of Music".[1]
Later life and career[edit]
Williams played for a short time with various musicians in New York in 1971, joined pianist Marc Copland's band, and played for the first time with saxophonist Lee Konitz in 1972.[1] He continued to work with Konitz on and off into the 2000s.[1] Williams played with saxophonist Stan Getz at the end of 1972 and into early 1973, before joining the band Lookout Farm, led by Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach.[1] Williams was also the drummer in pianist Beirach's trio for recordings in the mid-1970s.[1]
Williams was part of the band Interplay, formed by bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Peter Madsen in the mid-1980s.[2] This trio performed with Getz in 1987.[2] Some of Williams's compositions were played on the albums Coalescence and Jazzblues.[2] The former title was also the name of Williams's group from 1991 to 1996.[1] The following year, "he formed the trio Circadian Rhythms with Tony Malaby and Michael Formanek. He also formed another trio, Left-handed Compliment, with the alto saxophonist John O'Gallagher and Madsen (on Hammond organ)".[1]
Williams has taught at the Royal Academy of Music[3] and the Birmingham Conservatoire.[4] He is married to the American author Lionel Shriver.[5]
Discography[edit]
As leader or co-leader[edit]
- Coalescence (SteepleChase, recorded in 1991, released in 1994)
- Another Time (Whirlwind, 2011)
- The Listener (Whirlwind, 2013)
- Outlier (Whirlwind, 2016)
- Lifelike (Whirlwind, 2018)
- Bloom (Whirlwind, 2019)
As sideman[edit]
With Richard Beirach
With Paul Bley
- Paul Plays Carla (SteepleChase, 1992)
With Ethan Iverson
- Live at Smalls (Fresh Sound, 2000)
With Lee Konitz
- Lunasea (Soul Note, 1992) with Peggy Stern
- Dig-It (SteepleChase, 1999) with Ted Brown
- First Meeting: Live in London, Volume 1 (Whirlwind, 2014)
With Dave Liebman
- Lookout Farm (ECM, 1973)
- Drum Ode (ECM, 1974)
- Sweet Hands (Horizon, 1975)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kennedy, Gary W. (2003). "Williams, Jeff(rey Lawrence)". oxfordmusiconline.com. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J726800.
- ^ a b c Madsen, Peter (May 30, 2006). "Jeff Williams: Drums in the House". AllAboutJazz.
- ^ "Staff - Jeff Williams". ram.ac.uk. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ^ "Jeff Williams". Birmingham City University. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ^ Barber, Lynn (April 22, 2007). "Interview: Lionel Shriver". The Observer. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
External links[edit]
- Official site
- Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2009 Retrieved January 8, 2011
- London Jazz 2009 at archive.today (archived November 22, 2012) Retrieved January 8, 2011
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