Billy Williams Quartet @ Twins Jazz next week
Local drummer Billy Williams is taking his new quartet to Twins Jazz in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, December 27 for the group’s debut. The 20-year-old drummer who has shared the stage with greats such as Cyrus Chestnut, Donald Harrison, Eric Lewis, and Larry Willis, is a Virginia Beach native and is currently a student at […]
Local drummer Billy Williams is taking his new quartet to Twins Jazz in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, December 27 for the group’s debut. The 20-year-old drummer who has shared the stage with greats such as Cyrus Chestnut, Donald Harrison, Eric Lewis, and Larry Willis, is a Virginia Beach native and is currently a student at VCU.
The quartet consists of Williams, Justin Kauflin on piano, Alan Parker on guitar, and Matt Hall on bass. According to Williams, the four “have jammed together before, but because of geographic difficulties, this is our first gig together.” Says Williams of the group’s repertoire, “We will be performing a few of my originals for sure…This is one of the few times that I actually get to play them.”
Williams’ quartet employs two comping instruments in Kauflin and Parker. Why? “They were just killin’ players that happened to both play comping instruments. It’s interesting to play with both of them because they are coming from some different places musically, but they are careful not to step on each other’s toes.”
When asked about the proximity of D.C., to Richmond and what this means for the Richmond jazz scene, Williams responded:
Washington D.C. has a thriving music scene. As far as Richmond musicians playing up there, I believe that this is a mere matter of making the extra effort to pay $50 in gas for a road trip and doing what professionals do: networking and making connections that will give you an opportunity to get onto the scene. For me personally, D.C. offered a whole new perspective on music. I think it’s just as important for Richmond musicians to play in D.C. as it is for D.C. musicians to play in Richmond. Everybody has something to offer and we could all benefit from that exchange of musical information.
Check out Billy Williams at www.bwdrumz.com for more shows and audio samples.
[where: 1344 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009]
—————-
Now playing: Tomasz Stańko Quartet – Suspended Variations V
via FoxyTunes
-
Recommend this
on Facebook -
Report an error
-
Subscribe to our
Weekly Digest
There are no reader comments. Add yours.