Player Watch: Ben Williams

Ben WilliamsBassist Ben Williams was this year’s winner of the Thelonius Monk International Jazz Competition and has been making a splash in the music scene since. Williams took first prize in the competition with Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” performed with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Judges included notable bassists Charlie Haden, Ron Carter and Dave Holland.

Williams recently performed with his quartet, including saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, pianist Gerald Clayton and drummer Justin Brown. The New York Times covered the performance raving that his tone was “warm and sonorous, with a satisfying wooden resonance” and that his solos “formed such well-considered ideas, rolling from chorus to chorus with an effortless flow.”

Be sure to check out Williams on MySpace for upcoming shows and more examples of his music.

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