Ben Williams Explores Faith, Family, and Culture on “Between Church and State”
Grammy-award-winning jazz bassist Ben Williams has returned with a new solo album entitled Between Church and State. This follow-up to 2020’s I Am A Man continues his fusion of soul, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop as he explores his family’s activism and religion. Williams opened up about the album’s meaning on Instagram, calling it deeply personal and vulnerable.
“Despite this album being a ‘political’ statement on the surface, I’m not into politics. Or at least what it has become,” Williams states. “I’m into people. Culture. Expressions of the human condition, otherwise known as art. I’m a very spiritual person, but organized religion has often left me with more questions than answers. Nevertheless, the ‘state’ and the ‘church’ have both affected my life.”
Williams admits that being vulnerable is scary, but he’s not alone on Between Church and State. The bassist/vocalist tapped top talent in the jazz and soul realms including saxophonist Kamasi Washington, trumpeter Chief Adjuah, vocalist Kendra Foster, keyboardist Brandon Coleman, and more.
He performs both electric and double bass across the tracks. Check out his funky, filtered sound on “Keep On” featuring Washington, Foster, and vocalist Wes Felton.
Williams also reimagines the classic Marvin Gaye song “Inner City Blues” with an upright solo halfway through. The upright is affected for a unique and inspiring sound.
Between Church and State is streaming now on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other major platforms.
Between Church and State Track List:
- Safe Space (feat. Muhsinah)
- Keep On (feat. Kamasi Washington, Kendra Foster, and Wes Felton)
- Black is Beautiful (feat. Sy Smith, Kamasi Washington, and Dwight Trible)
- You Are (Supernatural) [feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow]
- Inner City Blues
- Blue (feat. Chief Adjuah)
- Ballet (for the Elephant in the Room) [feat. MAE.SUN]
- Consciousness (feat. Sasha Berliner, Andrew Renfroe, and Brandon Coleman)
- Double Consciousness
- Anima
- Hood Robin (feat. Keyon Harrold, Andrew Renfroe, and MAE.SUN)
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
