Ben Williams

Biography

Ben Williams is a Washington D.C.-born jazz bassist who has emerged as one of the most acclaimed and versatile musicians in modern jazz. A native Washingtonian, Williams graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) in 2002, where he honed his jazz skills under the tutelage of Davey Yarborough. As a teenager, he was already performing alongside D.C. jazz heavyweights like Allyn Johnson, Nasar Abadey, and Benito Gonzalez. He later studied with bassist Rodney Whitaker while attending Michigan State University, before earning his Master's in Jazz Studies from Juilliard.

Williams' rise to international prominence began in 2009 when he won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in the double bass category, which earned him a recording contract with Concord Records and $20,000 in scholarship funds. His debut album 'State of the Art' (2011) received a 4½ star review in DownBeat magazine and reached #1 on iTunes and Billboard charts, with iTunes naming him 'breakthrough artist of the year' in jazz. In 2013, he won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album as a member of Pat Metheny's Unity Band, and has been recognized as 'Rising Star Bassist' in DownBeat's Critics Poll in 2013 and 2015.

Throughout his career, Williams has evolved from a straight-ahead jazz bassist to a multifaceted artist incorporating R&B, hip-hop, and gospel influences. His 2020 album 'I Am a Man' marked his debut as a vocalist and showcased his growth as a socio-political artist, earning him recognition as 'Rising Star Vocalist' in DownBeat's 2022 Critics' Poll. Currently based in Los Angeles after spending 15 years in New York, Williams continues to push musical boundaries through projects like Butterfly Black (a duo with singer Syndee Winters) and his latest work 'Between Church & State,' which explores his family roots in the South.

Fun Facts

• iTunes named Ben Williams 'breakthrough artist of the year' in jazz in 2011 after his debut album reached #1 on both iTunes and Billboard charts
• He received a 'Congressional Jazz Innovator Award' from the late Congressman John Conyers in 2017
• Williams was encouraged to start singing by collaborator José James, who heard his vocal demos and convinced him to sing lead vocals for the first time on his 2020 album 'I Am a Man'
• His duo project Butterfly Black with Syndee Winters extends the legacy of classic male-female R&B duos like Ike & Tina Turner, Ashford & Simpson, and Peaches & Herb

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Davey Yarborough - Jazz instructor at Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Early jazz education and development) [Late 1990s-2002]
• Rodney Whitaker - Bass instructor during college studies (Bass technique and jazz studies at Michigan State University) [Mid-2000s]

Key Collaborators

• Pat Metheny - Member of Unity Band, Grammy-winning collaboration (Unity Band album (Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy 2013)) [2012-2013]
• Stefon Harris - Frequent collaborator and vibraphonist (Blackout band (Grammy nomination 2010)) [Late 2000s-2010s]
• Jacky Terrasson - Pianist collaboration (Various performances and recordings) [Late 2000s]
• Marcus Strickland - Saxophonist collaboration (Various jazz performances) [Late 2000s]
• Keyon Harrold - Trumpeter collaborator (I Am a Man album (2020), ongoing collaborations) [2020-present]
• Syndee Winters - Vocalist and songwriting partner in Butterfly Black duo (Singles: 'I Just Want to Love You,' 'Lifetime,' 'Reaction') [2022-2023]
• José James - Frequent touring collaborator who encouraged Williams to sing (Tour collaborations, vocal development influence) [2010s]
• Kamasi Washington - Contemporary jazz collaborator (Various performances) [2010s-present]

Source: Wikipedia

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Only Shadows Stay
2. Everything That Isn’t
3. Breathe the Void
4. Halfway Nowhere
5. Lose the Map
6. What Hides Here?
7. See Beyond Eyes
8. Nothing Stays Still
9. What Did You See?
10. Blink If Real

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia