Howard Williams (jazz musician)

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Howard Williams (* 1929 or 1930 in Alton (Illinois) ; † 2018 ) was an American jazz pianist , arranger and band leader .

Live and act

Howard Williams grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the age of three he began to learn the piano; When he was eight he had some piano lessons, otherwise he was self-taught. In junior high school he played the trumpet in the school band; at the age of 13 he had his first professional appearances with a dance band. During his time in Little Rock, he also played with Walter Norris from 1944-50 . After graduating from Louisiana State University , he did his military service and was a member of the Air Force Band for three years. He then toured with Hal McIntyre before moving to New York City. There he had lessons at the New School and during this time he played in the bands of Woody Herman , Charlie Barnet and Billy Butterfield . In 1958 he had the opportunity to take part in a recording session of trumpeter Wilbur Harden with John Coltrane for Savoy Records ( Tanganyika Strut , with Curtis Fuller , Alvin Jackson and Art Taylor ). With Bill Crow he made an appearance in the documentary The Jazz Loft Project . In the 1970s and 1980s he was still involved in recordings by the guitarist Cecil Gregory ( Nova Guitar ). In later years he directed an orchestra in Atlantic City and New York that lasted 20 years. In the field of jazz he was involved in five recording sessions between 1958 and 2003, most recently with the Lou Caputo Bigband ( Urban Still Life ), for which he also wrote arrangements .

The pianist Howard Williams should not be confused with the British jazz trombonist of the same name, who played for Gerry Brown's Jazzmen.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Lou Caputo: Obituary. Jazz Promo Services, April 27, 2018, accessed May 2, 2018 .
  2. ↑ a b c At 83, pianist and composer Howard Williams is still getting musicians to sound their best. Local 802, February 1, 2013, accessed May 2, 2018 .
  3. ↑ James A. Harrod: Jazz: West Records: Art Pepper on Jazz: West and Intro Records : Laguna Beach: Jazz Research, 2015
  4. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed May 12, 2018)
personal data
SURNAME Williams, Howard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH 1929 or 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH Alton (Illinois)
DATE OF DEATH 2018