11th December 2020: A Life in Music: drummer Jeff Williams tells us some ‘Road Tales’ from New York City
Over a forty year career, drummer Jeff Williams has worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, from Stan Getz to Lee Konitz. Born in Ohio, educated at Berklee and now living in London, his association with Whirlwind as a sideman and a leader stretches right back to the label’s first discs. He’s active as a performer and educator, and, ahead of his latest release, Live at London Jazz Festival: Road Tales, Jeff spoke to #WhirlwindInFocus about memories of London Jazz Festival, his new album, and how bad the current situation really is. Watch the video that Jeff recorded from his base in New York City, where he also discusses his track Double Life.
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Interview by Hugh Morris (hugh@whirlwindrecordings.com)
WWR: Hi Jeff, thanks for chatting to #WhirlwindInFocus. First up, how’s this whirlwind of a year treating you?!
JW: The beginning of 2020 started with a bang for me. Quite a bit of work with various groups had come my way, including a tour with Martin Speake and Ethan Iverson, gigs with Olie Brice with Percy Pursglove and Paul Dunmall, and some hits with Marc Copland and Drew Dress, amongst others. I wouldn’t have been able to conceive that things would go the way they have. By March it was all over. Since then I’ve played in front of an audience (out doors) exactly twice. I usually spend summers in Brooklyn and this year was no exception.
Social interaction has been very limited – I’m at that vulnerable age and have probably erred on the side of caution. Seeing what has happened to NYC jazz clubs, and generally everything else, is disheartening. The economic impact, while evident, is perhaps not yet as devastating as it’s likely to become if COVID recommendations remain as they are, or lead to further lockdowns. Fortunately music remains the saving grace, whether playing my instruments or listening to others. My spirits remain up because of it. There is still so much to learn about this art form.
WWR: Through your career, you’ve presumably seen the music scene go through many ups and downs. Where do you think the current situation ranks?
JW: Jazz clubs have always had to struggle to pay the bills but nothing like COVID 19 has ever come along entailing a complete shutdown of live music. Will we just get used to social distancing and wearing masks for years to come? If so, I guess some sort of resemblance to pre-pandemic conditions could return. Much like restaurants, music venues need to be filled to physical capacity to remain viable. That seems a ways off. The longer things stay this way the less likely establishments will survive, as we already see.
So I think the current situation ranks number one on the down scale, in my lifetime at least.
WWR: Your upcoming album was recorded at London Jazz Festival. Could you share some of your favourite memories from the festival down the years?
JW: I have some great memories of past London Jazz Festivals, like the three years in a row that my group played at the Green Note. The third year that happened the promoter of the Amazonas Jazz Festival was in attendance and hired us to come to Brazil on the spot, a memorable experience for sure.
The Festival is a peak time of the year for the city, lots of energy, catching up with people you haven’t seen and sharing the music. My latest recording comes from the second time my band performed at Pizza Express during the Festival and I’m glad I thought to record it. We had been playing around the UK and Europe for most of the year and I think that shows on the album.
WWR: Could you introduce your band for the recording? And what’s in the name, ‘Road Tales’?
JW: In support of my previous Whirlwind album, Lifelike, the group I was traveling with in 2018-19 was a sextet and on occasion not everyone was available. That was the case for Road Tales, which by default became the streamlined configuration of a piano-less quartet. The remaining members present for the recording were John O’Gallagher on alto saxophone and Josh Arcoleo on tenor. They have developed an astonishing blend and are amazing improvisors. As they have become intimate with my music over time their creativity within the compositions continues to blow my mind. Sam Lasserson on double bass, whom I depend upon to anchor the structures, does that so inventively it often makes me laugh.
Being on the road over a decent length of time with these musicians naturally contributes to various tales to be told pertaining to the experiences we had together. Road Tales, the album, is simply us talking through our instruments about some of them.
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Jeff’s album Live at London Jazz Festival: Road Tales is out now on 12″ LP 180g Limited Edition Vinyl, CD & DL. You can find it on our store: here, where you can also find Jeff’s back catalogue of releases on Whirlwind.
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