Europe Jazz Network
JAZZ-MAP

Willie Williams, born in Philadelphia 1959, is a saxophone voice that one will not forget and that now has been recorded three times as a leader on ENJA Records. "I always knew I wanted to be a jazz musician", Willie Williams observed recently during an interview. "My father was a sax player and a big Max Roach fan, so there was much music in my home. I was fanatical about playing from an early age and would practice 12 hours a day. I probably didn't have a childhood". While still in high school, Willie started getting nightly gigs on the then-thriving Philadelphia club scene, and when he then studied at the Philadelphia College for Performing Arts he was in high demand for studio works with all kind of pop musicians. He estimates having appeared on over 60 albums. 1980 Bobby Watson could persuade Willie to move to New York, where he had to restart his career from scratch. First engagements with Abdullah Ibrahim and Bobby Watson improved his situation. Since 1988 he was regular member of Arthur Taylor's Wailers until his death 1996. When T.S. Monk heard Willie Williams the first time in Clifford Jordans Big Band, he hired him right away for his own band. Today he is still touring with T.S.Monk besides a lot of work he has with own groups.