Song:Home
Album:State Of Art
Since winning the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition, Ben Williams has become an in demand sideman. He has also recorded two albums as a leader. He was born Dec. 28, 1984 in Washington, DC. He started playing bass at age ten. He graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at Michigan State and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Juilliard. Winning the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition got Williams a contract with Concord. He started out as a sideman for other Concord artists like Stefon Harris, Marcus Strickland, Jacky Terrasson and George Benson. He also recorded with Terell Stafford and Dick Oatts. Williams released his debut album State of Art in 2012. Musicians are Marcus Strickland on tenor sax, Matthew Stevens on guitar, Gerald Clayton on piano, Jamire Williams on drums and Etienne Charles on percussion. He toured with this band. At the same time, Williams joined Pat Metheny's Unity Band and that band is very successful. Williams has recorded three albums with Metheny and also tours with him. Williams released his second album Coming Of Age in 2015 also featuring Strickland and Stevens and special guests Goapele and Christian Scott. He has also recorded with Next Collective, Harvey Mason and Eric Reed among others. I noticed his website is under construction which may indicate a new album on a different label. Williams is going on a European tour in June. Here's Ben Williams performing Home at Tribeca in New York 2003 for radio station WBGO.
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