Bruce Williams

Bruce Williams is a powerful young jazz saxophonist who hails from our nation's capital of Washington, D.C. He has made his presence known on the jazz scene by garnering critical attention with his own enthusiastically received CD releases - "Brotherhood" and "Altoicity" - issued on Savant Records. He's made an indelible impression as a sideman on over twenty other CD and video recordings. Bruce has performed, toured, and recorded with a long roster of jazz legends - Little Jimmy Scott, Frank Foster, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Stanley Cowell, Louis Smith, Cecil Brooks III, The Count Basie Orchestra, The World Saxophone Quartet, Russell Gunn, Curtis Fuller, and Roy Hargrove to name a few.

Bruce Williams is a versatile saxophone stylist, performing in a variety of diverse playing environments - from traditional to hip-hop to the avant-garde. He has been an honored recipient of awards from DownBeat magazine and The Charlie Parker Music and More Foundation. His ability to perform masterfully in a range of jazz styles has placed him on two Grammy nominated recordings and sent him to numerous cities throughout the US and abroad - France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, the West Indies, and Japan.

Bruce Williams is a versatile saxophone stylist, performing in a variety of diverse playing environments - from traditional to hip-hop to the avant-garde. He has been an honored recipient of awards from DownBeat magazine and The Charlie Parker Music and More Foundation. His ability to perform masterfully in a range of jazz styles has placed him on two Grammy nominated recordings and sent him to numerous cities throughout the US and abroad in France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, the West Indies, Lebanon, and Japan.

Bruce Williams is currently the newest and youngest member, of the internationally recognized jazz group, "The World Saxophone Quartet". Bruce is currently a member of a newly founded group by legendary drummer Ben Riley, the "Thelonious Monk Legacy Septet". Bruce also leads four bands of his own - a quartet, a quintet, a jazz organ trio, and a progressive electric jazz group.

A noted jazz educator and mentor to young jazz musicians; Bruce has given master classes at Ohio State, Iowa State, The Jazz Institute of New Jersey, The University of the District of Columbia, Princeton University, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center "Jazz For Teens" program, and the Paris Conservatory in France. He has served as adjunct saxophone instructor at both the New School for Social Research (Mannes School of Music) in NYC, Princeton, and William Paterson Universities in New Jersey while continuing to nurture a healthy rooster of private students of his own.

Bruce Williams has been mentored by some of the best in the business including Frank Foster, Branford Marsalis, Joe Ford, Laura George, William Shadle,Oliver Lake and Cecil Brooks III.

All of the above experiences have aided Bruce Williams in becoming a confident doubler and one of the premier jazz alto and soprano saxophonists in the world today.

Resume:

Teaching Experience

Endorsements

Yanagisawa Saxophones/G. Leblanc Woodwinds
Vandoren Reeds, Mouthpieces, & Accessories
Applied Microphone Technology (AMT) Wireless Microphones

Consultant

Assists clients in the personalized selection of woodwinds and accessories.

Performance History:

1993 - Present Cecil Brooks III (drummer/producer/Muse/HighNote Records)
1993 -1995 Pete "La Roca" Sims (drummer/Blue Note Records)
1994 - 1995 The Lionel Hampton Orchestra (vibraphone)
1994 - 2000 Tess Marsalis & The Swing Daddies Big Band (vocalist) conducted by Frank Foster
1994 - 2003 Russell Gunn Hip Hop Jazz Sextet (trumpeter/Atlantic Records and High Note Records)
1995 - 1998 Winard Harper (drummer/Savant Records)
1995 - 1999 Jimmy McGriff (organist/Fantasy Records)
1995 - 2001 Jimmy Scott (vocalist/Artist Only Records)
1996 - Present Stanley Cowell (pianist/Steeplechase Records)
1996 - 2000 Cindy Blackman Quartet (drummer/Muse/Highnote Records) 1996 - 2000 Spirit of Life Ensemble (Rise Up Records)
1996 - Present The Loud Minority & Swing Plus Big Bands led by Frank Foster
1997 Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra w/Wynton Marsalis
1997 - 2001 Roy Hargrove Quintet/Big Band (trumpeter/Verve Records)
1998 - Present Oliver Lake Big Band Ensemble (altos sax/composer) (Passin Thru Records)
2001 - Present Joe Elefante Big Band (Independent)
2000 - 2002 Count Basie Orchestra led by Grover Mitchell
2001 - Present The World Saxophone Quartet (JustinTime Records)
2003 - Present Curtis Fuller Quintet

Education

1987-1990 The University of the District Columbia, full music scholarship recipient

1990-1993 William Paterson College of Wayne, New Jersey

Private Study

W/ Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Rufus Reid, Harold Mabern, Kenny Garrett, Leroy Barton, Howard Burns, Prof Calvin Jones, Ron Kearns, Larry Mullins and Gary Smulyan