Jessica Williams
My blogs
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arts |
| Occupation | Pianist, Composer |
| Location | Seattle, WA, United States |
| Links | Audio Clip |
| Introduction | Jessica Williams is a well-known and highly respected American pianist and composer. DAVE BRUBECK calls her "One of the greatest pianists I have ever heard..." McCOY TYNER says "Jessica is a beautiful player..." ALUN MORGAN of Gramophone believes her to be "The most important pianist to arrive since Bill Evans." This three-time Grammy Nominee is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music. She worked with Philly Joe Jones. She also played in the bands of Eddie Harris, Tony Williams, Stan Getz, Big Nick Nicholaus, Airto and Flora Purim, Charlie Rouse, John Abercrombie, Leroy Vinnegar, Charlie Haden, Red Mitchell, Bobby Hutcherson, etc. She has released over 70 albums and written over 350 compositions. She holds a Fellowship with the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. She has received three grants from the NEA; a Rockefeller Grant; the Alice B. Toklas Grant for Women Composers, The ASCAP-PLUS AWARD in the areas of composition and performance, yearly for the past 24 years. During the last four decades, Jessica has recorded for most major labels. Guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Marian McPartland's Piano Show. Written scores for PBS and HBO. |
| Interests | Playing piano, making dreams real, reading, walking, dogs, cats, animal rescue, political action, health freedom initiatives, environmental preservation, constitutional law, social justice, the end of feudal rule by religious government / aritocracy / theocracy. |
| Favorite movies | Witness for the Prosecution |
| Favorite music | J S Bach, Classical, Jazz, Contemporary, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk |
| Favorite books | The End of America by Naomi Wolfe‬ Romance on Three Legs by Kathryn Hefner We are the Ones that we have been Waiting for by Alice Walker The Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert |