Steve Williams (jazz drummer)

Steve Williams
Williams in New York City in 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Stephen Edward Williams
Born	January 7, 1956 (1956-01-07) (age 55)
Origin	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Drummer
Instruments	drums
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Elabeth
Associated acts	Shirley Horn Miles Davis Toots Thielemans Ron Carter Milt Jackson Freddie Hubbard Joe Williams Larry Willis Mulgrew Miller Gary Thomas Branford Marsalis Wynton Marsalis Carmen McRae Roy Hargrove
Website	www.abrushfire.com
Members
Olivier Hutman (p) Michael Bowie (b) Donvonte McCoy (t) Antoine Roney (s)

Stephen Edward Williams (born January 7, 1956) is an American jazz drummer.

For twenty-five years he has collaborated with jazz pianist and singer Shirley Horn.

From Washington DC

Williams was born in Rochester, New York and grew up in Washington, DC. He continued his music education at the University of Miami. There he joined Monty Alexander's band, with whom he started to perform on the international scene. He furthered his music education in New York, with Billy Hart.

Back in Washington, Williams played locally with Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Williams, Woodie Shaw, Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson, John Hicks, Larry Willis, Mulgrew Miller and many others. He joined Gary Thomas' band, with whom he recorded one of his first compositions, "Pads".

With Shirley Horn

Then he joined Shirley Horn, who would keep for twenty-five years the same rhythm section: Charles Ables (bass) and Steve Williams (drums). Critic Don Heckman wrote in the Los Angeles Times (February 2, 1995) about "the importance of bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams to the Horn's sound. Working with boundless subtlety, following her every spontaneous twist and turn, they were the ideal accompanists for a performer who clearly will tolerate nothing less than perfection". His music relationship with the pianist and singer gives him the opportunity to tour the world and record with such artists as Toots Thielemans, Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis, Carmen McRae, Roy Hargrove and Miles Davis.

To NYC

After his long collaboration with Shirley Horn, Williams moved back to New York in 2006, where he studied with Michael Carvin. He performs among others with the Slagle/Stryker Band, Paul Bollenbach, Roni Ben-Hur, Larry Willis, the John Hicks Legacy Band, Bill Saxton, Bob Mover, Amy London, Sara Lazarus, Ben Vereen, Joe Lovano, Eddie Henderson, Carmen Lundy, Bob Stewart, Clifton Anderson. Known for his refinement with Shirley Horn, he is also appreciated as a powerful and sensitive instrumentalist.

He pursues his music career with his own quintet, promoting original compositions by the band members. His first album as the leader of New Incentive was released in January 2007. The musicians are: Olivier Hutman (p), Michael Bowie (b), Donvonte McCoy (t), and Antoine Roney (s). John Hicks, Gary Bartz and Roy Hargrove are guests.

Press

New Incentive

• "The enjoyment he derives from inspiring everyone here couldn't be more obvious"... more
  Mike Joyce, Washington Post, February 23, 2007
• "Steve Williams emerges as a leader with a potent modern-bop quintet"... more
  Jazz Times, May 2007
• "This record is a splendor. It revivals the kind of emotion that you only feel listening to the great sessions from the sixties. The compositions, signed by Steve Williams or other musicians from the band are dazzling. It is one of those that gives the strength to get up in the morning and the will to stretch out the night"... more
  Renaud Czarnes - Les Echos January 26, 2007
• "Superb debut as a leader. A true musical project, a real personality of instrumentalist and a surrounding in full sympathy with a determined leader: in short, an album of inspired jazz"...more
  Jean Szlamowicz - Jazz Hot February 2007
• "Each of Steve Williams interventions –breaks and choruses- as well as his accompaniment show clearly that it was time for him to lead this kind of band"... more

Henri Marchal in La Semaine des Spectacles January 24, 2007

• "This album has to be recommended"... more

Jacques Aboucaya Jazz Magazine February 2007

• "A session of exceptional quality"... more
  Discovery records - January 2007

Other reviews

• "Steve Williams' playing here generated the kind of rhythmic drive that Art Blakey excelled at during his heyday."

Chuck Obuchowski Hartford Courant -May 10, 2009 referring to a performance with the Joe Lovano Nonet.

Discography

As leader

• 2006: New Incentive

As sideman

• 2008: Wild Is Love - Jamie Broumas
• 2005: But Beautiful - Shirley Horn
• 2003: May the Music Never End - Shirley Horn
• 2001: You're My Thrill - Shirley Horn
• 2000: The Legacy Lives On - The Legacy Band
• 2000: Sketches of James - Various
• 2000: The Face of Love - Eugene Maslov
• 1999: Trio+Strings - John Hicks
• 1998: American Rhapsody - Vienna Art Orchestra
• 1998: I Remember Miles - Shirley Horn
• 1997: Loving You - Shirley Horn
• 1997: Ballads from the Black Sea - Datevik
• 1996: Monterey Jazz Festival - 40 Legendary Years - Various
• 1996: The Main Ingredient - Shirley Horn
• 1995: Ramona - Jeffery Smith
• 1994: Masters From Different Worlds - Clifford Jordan-Ran Blake
• 1994: I Love You, Paris - Shirley Horn
• 1993: Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles) - Shirley Horn
• 1992: Here's to Life - Shirley Horn
• 1992: Glengarry Glen Ross (soundtrack) - Various
• 1991: For My Lady - Toots Thielemans
• 1991: You Won't Forget Me - Shirley Horn
• 1990: Sarah: Dedicated to You - Carmen McRae
• 1989: In Good Company - Joe Williams
• 1989: Close Enough for Love - Shirley Horn
• 1988: Softly - Shirley Horn
• 1988: Code Violations - Gary Thomas
• 1987: I Thought About You - Live at Vine St. - Shirley Horn
• 1987: All of Me - Shirley Horn
• 1987: The Garden of the Blues - Shirley Horn

External links

• Steve Williams
• Steve Williams @ Myspace
• Gary Bartz
• John Hicks
• Michael Carvin
• Billy Hart
• Olivier Hutman
• Sara Lazarus

Persondata
Name	Williams, Steve
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Date of birth	January 7, 1956
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