Tom Williams
Bass
musink@earthlink.net
ext. 49042
Phillips Hall B-160
Bachelor of Music, 1980, University of Tennessee
Thomas Williams' musical experience is vast and varied. He has appeared with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Slide Hampton, and such jazz notables as Diane Schurr, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sanduval, and James Moody. He has performed at many of the worldís most prestigious jazz festivals, including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Toronto Jazz Festival. His show experience includes performances with Bob Hope, Steve Allen, The Drifters, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. A former member of the prestigious Airmen of Note, Thomas was a featured soloist with the band, and many of his compositions and arrangements were performed at major music and jazz festivals, including the Detroit Montreux Cooljazz festival. In July of 2003, his composition and arrangement, ìDesert Aire,î was performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival during a European tour with the Shepherd University Jazz Ensemble. Thomasí recording career spans more than 20 years and 10 albums with the Airmen of Note, 2 CD's with the Fred Hughes Trio, and most recently, with famed Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi in Rio de Janeiro. Thomas Williams has enjoyed numerous successes with his writing, including a first place award from the Mid-Atlantic Song Writing Contest and the use of his compositions for the nationally broadcast television program, ìLifestyles of the Rich and Famous.î Thomas has conducted clinics and seminars for many of the nationís leading high schools, colleges and universities as well as for the 1994 and 1996 International Association of Jazz Educators conferences. He has participated in the Stanford Jazz Workshop for the past two years, appearing with Claudio Roditi in concert at the festival. Thomas Williams is currently professor of Jazz Studies at Shepherd University and Instructor of Bass Guitar at The George Washington University. He is currently performing nationally with the Fred Hughes Group.
