Ben Williams

Jazz Bassist Ben Williams Is A Forward-Thinking Musician Who Crosses Easily Between Straight-Ahead Funk And Gospel-Influenced Jazz. A Native Of Washington D.C. Williams Graduated From The Duke Ellington School Of Music Before Studying With Renowned Bassist Rodney Whitaker While Earning A B.A. In Jazz Studies At Michigan State University. He Is An In-Demand Sideman And Has Performed With A Veritable Who's Who Of Jazz Including Wynton Marsalis Roy Hargrove Mulgrew Miller Terence Blanchard And Others. Williams Is Also A Regular Member Of Stefon Harris' Hip-Hop-Influenced Blackout Ensemble And Leads His Own Group. In 2009 Williams Won The Prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition And Subsequently Signed A Recording Deal With Concord Records. In 2011 He Released His Debut Solo Album State Of Art. Bio Via Allmusic read less