Ben Williams (Bass) - State of Art

Artist:

Williams, Ben (Bass)

UPC:

888072323414

Description:

Personnel: Matthew Stevens (guitar); Marcus Strickland (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Gerald Clayton (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Jamire Williams (drums); Etienne Charles (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Seth Presant.
Liner Note Author: Ben Williams .
Recording information: Sear Sound, New York, NY (06/16/2010/06/17/2010).
Photographer: Jati Lindsay.
Arranger: Ben Williams .
Bassist Ben Williams` 2011 solo debut, State of Art, is a thoughtful contemporary and post-bop-leaning album that finds the winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition delving into several original tunes and successful pop covers. Williams is an adroit improviser with a fluid, muscular approach to the upright -- as well as the electric -- bass, and he showcases all of his skills here along with his ear for unexpected covers and lively originals. Tracks like the roiling, Latin-infused number "November," featuring guitarist Matthew Stevens, and the high-energy, frenetic "Mr. Dynamite" are ear-popping straight-ahead jazz moments, while the hip-hop jazz cut "The Lee Morgan Story," featuring MC/vocalist John Robinson, brings to mind such `90s innovators as Gang Starr and A Tribe Called Quest. A child of the hip-hop generation, Williams clearly has an affinity for the music he grew up with, and consequently, although he does deliver a ruminative and gorgeous contemporary jazz version of "Moonlight in Vermont" here, he also includes a handful of inspired soul covers, including a string-heavy take on Michael Jackson`s "Little Susie" and a slow and funky modal jazz version of Stevie Wonder`s "Part-Time Lover" featuring saxophonist Marcus Strickland, while he turns R&B singer Goapele`s "Things Don`t Exist" into a cinematic orchestral jazz ballad. Though not an R&B cover, Williams` version of trumpeter Woody Shaw`s underappreciated "Moontrane" only helps to further expand an already supremely well-rounded debut. ~ Matt Collar

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Home
2. Moontrane
3. Lee Morgan Story, The - (featuring Emcee John Robinson)
4. Dawn of a New Day
5. Little Susie (Intro)
6. Little Susie
7. November
8. Part-Time Lover
9. Things Don`t Exist
10. Mr. Dynamite
11. Moonlight in Vermont

Album Information

Release Date:

06/28/2011

Type:

Performer

Genre:

R&B

Subgenre:

Rap

Label:

Concord Jazz

Producer:

Chris Dunn; Ben Williams

Catalog Number:

CJA 32341

Original Release Year:

2011

# of Discs:

1

Runtime:

61 : 44

Guest Artist:

Christian Scott; Emcee John Robinson

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