Jeffrey Lawrence Williams (born July 6, 1950) is an American jazz drummer, composer, and educator.
Jeff Williams | |
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Birth name | Jeffrey Lawrence Williams |
Born | (1950-07-06) July 6, 1950 (age 72) Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, educator |
Instrument(s) | Drums |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Labels | Whirlwind |
Website | willfulmusic |
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]
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]
With Richard Beirach
With Paul Bley
With Ethan Iverson
With Lee Konitz
With Dave Liebman
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