https://www.jazzwax.com/2018/12/john-thms-williams-1929-2018.html
John Thms. Williams (1929-2018)
John Thomas Williams, a spirited jazz pianist strongly influenced by Bud Powell and Horace Silver who recorded with the Stan Getz Quintet in the early 1950s before recording his two sole leadership albums for EmArcy in 1954 and '55, died on December 15. He was 89.
Born in Windsor, Vt., Williams began as a church organist. In the mid-1940s, he joined the regional band of jazz violinist Mal Hallett, which brought him to New York. By the late 1940s, Williams was playing in saxophonist Johnny Bothwell's band. In 1951 and '52, he played baritone horn in an Army band during the Korean War. Discharged in 1953, Williams attended the Manhattan School of Music for a semester before touring and recording with Getz on his early Clef and Norgran recordings with trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. [Photo above, from left, of Bob Brookmeyer, Stan Getz, Frank Isola, John Williams and Teddy Kotick in 1953]
Williams also played piano on key recordings led by Med Flory, Nick Travis, Bill De Arango, Charlie Mariano and Cannonball Adderley, among others. But Williams was probably best known for his trio recordings as a leader on EmArcy. Today, these can be found on a single release here. Starting in the 1960s, Williams became a banker and eventually was named a city commissioner in Hollywood, Fla., before recording two final albums in the 1990s.
In tribute to John Thomas Williams, here are 10 terrific recordings that feature his piano:
Here's Williams with Stan Getz in 1953 playing Have You Met Miss Jones…
Here's Williams with guitarist Sal Salvador in 1953 playing Gone With the Wind…
Here's Williams in Med Flory's big band in 1954 playing Med's arrangement of Straight Ahead…
Here's Williams with trumpeter Nick Travis in 1954 playing Nick's Knacks with Al Cohn on tenor saxophone…
Nick's Knacks
Here's Williams with Cannonball Adderley in 1955 playing Willows…
Here's the John Williams Trio, with Bill Anthony (b) and Frank Isola (d), in 1954 playing For Heaven's Sake…
Here's Williams in another trio setting with Bill Anthony (b) and Jack Edie (d) playing Like Someone in Love…
Here's Williams with Chuck Andrus (b) and Frank Isola (d) playing Manteca…
Here's Williams with Bill Anthony (b) and Frank Isola (d) playing Be Careful It's My Heart…
And here's Williams with the Stan Getz Quinetet in 1953 playing Pot Luck…
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