Willie Williams 

                                     "Celebrating 50+ years in the Musical Arts” 

2023-New CD: Willie Williams Zig Zag (WWM 001) Limited release. 

Featuring Willie Williams' Tenor, Soprano Saxes & Flute,  Stephen Scott Piano, Buster Williams Bass, Victor Lewis Drums. (additional musicians - Carlos Maldonado Percussion and Ace Williams Flugelhorn)

2020- Willie Williams Father And Son (WWM 002) Willie Williams Tenor and Soprano Saxophone. Ace Williams Trumpet and Flugelhorn. Alvester Garnett Drums. Brandon Mcune and Miles Lenox Piano. Kenny Davis and Noah Jackson Bass.  WillsWayMusic records, productions, and publishing. 

                 Willie Williams was born on November 1, 1958 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Willie and his family moved to Philadelphia when he was only 6 months old. Raised in the tradition of Philadelphia saxophonists he was performing and recording professionally with local acts by the age of “12”. Locally he had become the most talked about youth in many years. Upon High School graduation (No.1 in his high school graduating class), Willie studied classical saxophone with Marshall Taylor and did extensive performances with many diverse ensembles while attending the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts by day. 

    He pursued his passion " Jazz ", by night. Performing with local organ trios including Don Patterson, Groove Homes, Charlie Earland, Trudy Pits, and others. While leading his quartet in Philadelphia he was honored to open for the veteran alto saxophonist Bobby Watson.   Encouraged to take on New York City, he jumped at chance. He began to perform with Art Blakey, Jackie Byard, Sam Rivers, Young Lions etc. His big break came with " Taylor's Wailers " a Quintet formed by the late drummer Arthur Taylor. During that time he also worked around New York City and toured with Clifford Jordan's Big Band, Mingus Dynasty small and large ensembles, and a host of others, including a long and fruitful collaboration with

T. S. Monk. His most recent sideman endeavor as musical collaborator with the Mighty Pirate Orchestra, lead by Papo Vazquez, a brilliant Puerto Rican, Philly born trombonist composer and arranger, Papo features him prominently on disc and in the live context. 

  After recording 5 critically acclaimed discs as a leader, he has made his mark as an award winning performer, composer, arranger and teacher. 

Willie Williams Tenor Saxophone etc. 

Discography: 

2023 WillieWilliams Zig Zag (WWM001) NEW RELEASE  WillsWayMusic records. Features Stephen Scott on piano, Buster Williams’ bass and Victor Lewis on drums. (with Carlos Maldonado and Ace Williams.)

  Willie Williams Father And Son (WWM002)  Willie Williams tenor and soprano saxophones. Ace Williams trumpet and flugelhorn, Brandon McCune and Miles Lennox piano, Kenny Davis and Noah Jackson bass, and  Alvester Garnett DRUMS.

Comet Ride Willie Williams Trio (Miles High Records) w/Gary Wang (b)- Rudy Walker (d) 

WW 3 Willie Williams Trio (Enja Records) w/ Scott Colley (b) Harold Summey Jr.(d) 

“Jazz Times " ......... “Williams knows he must move his horns around to make a trio work and that he does. At just the right times he switches to soprano, breathing different registers into the music, raising the varietal quotient..... Willie Williams bears listening........." 

THE ENJA BAND LIVE AT SWEET BASIL (Enja Records)Willie Williams Tenor and Soprano saxes— w/ Gust William Tsilis (vib) Uri Caine (p) Michael Formanel (b) Cecil Brooks III (d) 

SPIRIT WILLIE  Willie Williams Quartet (Enja Records) w/Geoff Keezer (p) Christian McBride(b) Victor Lewis (d) 

HOUSE CALLS (New Note Records) w/ Ronnie Mathews (p) Curtis Lundy (b) Kenny Washington (d) 

As a sideman 

T. S. Monk: Higher Ground (Thelonious Records) *This features one of Willie’s new compositions  ~“Millenium Dance” Cross Talk, Monk on Monk (N2K Encoded Music) The Charm, The Changing of the guard, Take One (Blue Note) 

Kevin Mahogany: Songs and Moments (Enja Records) 

Arthur Taylor: Live at the Village Vanguard (Polygram) Mister A. T. (Enja Records) 

Ray Mantilla: The New Space Station (Savant Records) * Featuring Willie’s arrangement of “Mantilla’s Jam” 

Ray Mantilla: The Connection “Featuring Willie’s Original composition Psalm 107” 

George Johnson: Kings Without A Kingdom 

Gary Bartz: Shadows (Timeless Records) 

Clifford Jordan Big Band: Live at Condon's (Landmark ) 

Bobby Watson: The Inventor (Blue Note) 

Larry Coryell: Monk, Trane, Miles & Me           (Highnote Records – HCD 7028) 

Papo Vazquez: Pirates and Troubadours At The Point - Pt. 1, 2 (Ubiquity Records)                                                 Carnival in San Juan (Ubiquity Records, 2003) Papo Vazquez Pirate Troubadours From the Badlands (Piacro Records) 

The Pratt Brothers Big Band: Groovy Encounters (Amosaya Records) 

Jeff Jerolamon Quartet: Ana May (N.Y. Jazz 1001) 

Cedar Walton: Roots, 1997 (Astor Place) 

Verve 50th Anniversary Concert Live at Carnegie Hall, CD and Video (Verve Records)-Emmy Nominated 

Halim Suliman and The Solzar Jazz Quartet: Word Rhythm (New City Music) 

Cornell Rochester and the NP Boys

 

Some of Willie’s Performing Experiences: 

Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (Arturo O’Farrill/Music Director) 

 The Town Hall 75th Anniversary Jazz Concert 

"The Jazz Foundation of America All Stars, Award Ceremony” at New York Town Hall, NYC 

Thelonious Monk International 

Jazz Guitar & Bass Competition "All Star Musicians" John F. Kennedy Center 

All Star Reception at Vice President Al Gore's Mansion 

Thelonious Monk International 

Jazz Drum Competition All Star Musicians 

Lincoln Center 

Great Performances Verve 50th Anniversary 

 

E-mail : jazzywilliesax@gmail.com 

Tel : (201)463-6530 

Education​ 1980  B.A. Saxophone Philadelphia College of Performing Arts​ 

 Settlement Music School 

Teaching Experience 1974 ~ 

Jazz Clinician, Jazz Historical Lecturer, 

Jazz Mobile faculty. Saxophone Class and 

Private Instruction. Music theory 1&2. New School of Music adjunct-Individual Instruction, NYC. 

Instructor, Woodwind Department Harlem School of the Arts 

Private Saxophone Instruction and adjunct faculty, City College of New York (CCNY) 

Settlement Music School, Philadelphia Germantown branch. Saxophone tutor. 

Musical Awards 

YAMAHA SAXOPHONE ENDORSEE 

ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF JAZZ INDUCTEE, ASCAP POPULAR AWARD RECIPIENT 

International Association of Jazz Educators, "OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO JAZZ EDUCATION" 

Philadelphia Musical Society Award, "ARTIST DESERVING WIDER RECOGNITION IN JAZZ" 

Philadelphia Clef-Society, "OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN IN JAZZ" 

Quinnipiac College Big band competition: 

“Best Soloist” 

Washington Jazz Festival (May 1976) 

 “Outstanding Soloist” 

Performing Experience 1971- 

“While leading my band in Philadelphia, I was discovered by alto saxophonist Bobby Watson. Encouraged to take on New York City, I jumped at chance. I began to perform with Art Blakey, Jackie Byard, Sam Rivers, etc. 

My big break came with " Taylor's Wailers " a Quintet formed by the late drummer Arthur Taylor. During that time I also worked around New York City and toured with Clifford Jordan's Big Band, Mingus Dynasty big band at the Time Cafe along with some “Dynasty” small band quintet gigs. These and a host of others, including a long and fruitful collaboration with T.S. Monk. My most recent sideman endeavor as musical director with the Mighty Pirate Orchestra, lead by Papo Vazquez, a brilliant Puerto Rican, Philly born trombonist composer and arranger. After recording 5 critically acclaimed discs as a leader, I am proud and grateful to have made my mark as an award winning performer, composer, arranger and teacher.” 

*Outstanding Concert Performances* 

Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (Arturo O’Farrill /Music Director) 

Giants of Jazz tribute to James Moody, South Orange, NJ 

Tribute to Benny Golson, Afro American Museum,  Philadelphia, PA 

​ 

TV / Radio Credits 

With TS Monk – Jazz Set National Public Radio at Kennedy Center, Washington, DC 

Willie Williams musician program live call-in show at WKCR FM radio Columbia University New York City/ with Ted Panken 

Willie Williams Trio Live at SUBWAY, German National TV “Colon” 

Willie Williams Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute, Japanese bamboo flute. 

Additional associations and recordings: 

Grover Washington Jr. Tribute Legacy Band, George Johnson 

DJ Milo, Nat Adderly Jr., 

Benny Rossa, Joe Delia, 

Greg Bufford, Fred McFarlane, 

Sumi Tonooka, Zahir Batin, Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya 

Grant Green Jr. Benny Green 

Jackie Byard’s Apollo Stompers 

Tina Turner, BB King,  Jean Carne, Patti LaBelle, Charro, Johnny Mathis, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gourmet 

Diana Ross, Mitzi Gayner, Eddie Allen, Rip Taylor, Heni Youngman 

The Stylistics, The Spinners, 

 The Four Tops-Temptations Reunion Concert, Dorethy Moore, 

Instant Funk, Dexter Wansel, 

The Jones Girls, Sister Sledge    

Broadway and Theater Work: 

Ain’t Misbehavin’ 

Sophisticated Ladies 

42nd Street 

The Wiz 

Don’t Get God Started 

Uptown It’s Hot 

Harlem Suites 

Back Bog Beast Bait 

Savion Glover 

Early Career 

Local bands: 

(Philly) 

Crosstown Traffic 

Earthbound 

Red Sun 

Raw Image 

E-mail : jazzywilliesax@gmail.com 

Tel : 1+(201) 463-6530