James Williams discusses the influence of Art Blakey on his work

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James Williams on Wynton Marsalis

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James Williams talks about recording with Concord

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Q: “[Art Blakey] is quite an important man in your life, isn’t he?”

A: James Williams: “Yes, I would say and certainly not mine, so many of us over the last 35 or 40 years, but in particular, you know, I had never really... I had a chance with playing with some excellent musicians, you know, with some great musicians. As a matter of fact, people like Thad Jones and Joe Henderson, Sonny Stitt and Red Norvo, different people. So I had gotten a little experience playing with Clark Terry also, with a few people. But Art really gave me my first, real road...”

Interviewer: “International experience.”

James Williams: “Yeah, road experience to where I was out traveling extensively like you say, nationally and internationally and opportunity to compose and arrange and to record compositions for the band and in some cases, you know, arrangements of ... I did an arrangement of the songs as used for the band. We recorded it one time and stuff. And so you know, that kind of opportunity, you know, it was a good chance, like you say, you do that and make a living and playing the music you want to play. It's really, you know, one of the last institutions where you can still do that. And I feel very lucky I was there with a couple of additions to the band and probably, I guess, the most celebrated addition to the band since, you know, Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton were there with Reggie Workman. So I was very lucky to be there, you know, at that time when Billy Peterson and all the guys were in a group.”