Born: December 12, 1960 Primary Instrument: Piano
Bradley Williams cut his teeth in a two-year stint with Woody Herman
Woody Herman
1913 - 1987
band/orchestra
's Thundering Herd in the mid- '80s, both as pianist and arranger. After settling in Chicago he gained notoriety as musical director at the legendary Gold Star Sardine Bar.
Following his tenure there he created his modern jazz variety show, The Original 21st Century Review, which went on to record numerous CDs and soundtracks, touring internationally. During this period he also began to perform as a vocalist. In Chicago he's had long tenures with saxophonist Von Freeman
Von Freeman
1922 - 2012
sax, tenor
and trumpeter Art Hoyle, is a favorite pianist of visiting New York vocalist Sheila Jordan, and performed with Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson
1937 - 2001
sax, tenor
at Chicago's Jazz Showcase.
In 2011, Williams released a new CD, “Sojourn,” featuring his trio and a string quartet in a 12-part suite of original compositions.
2012 saw the release of his first trio recording in some time, “3,” a collaboration with fellow composer and bassist Eric Hochberg, along with drummer Jim Widlowski.
The pianist has been a part-time professor of Jazz Studies at Chicago's DePaul University for 20 years and also teaches piano and vocal lessons at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
“...you ignore the fine details--the interplay of light and dark, the unusual angles, the narrative contours--at your risk. Williams never fails to surprise and tickle.” - Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader
“Examining classics with keen understanding, he decorates themes in subtly iridescent emotional shades that never include mawkishness.” Frank John Hadley, Downbeat Magazine
Sojourn
21st Century Entertainment
2011
Tracks: 1. Onward and Sideways; 2. Bouquet (for Amy); 3. The Stroll; 4. Cul-de-sac; 5. All the Pretty Flowers; 6. Gal Costa; 7. Lullaby; 8. Fanfare; 9. Threnody; 10. Some Advice; 11. I'll Let You Break My Heart Again; 12. Sojourn.
Personnel:Bradley Williams: pianist/composer/arranger.
Daniel DeLorenzo: bass.
Michael Schlick: drumset.
Blaise Mengiere: violin.
Marie Wang: violin.
Tony Devroye: viola.
Cheng-hou Lee: cello.
Jade Maze: vocal.
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