Steve Williamson
| Steve Williamson | |
|---|---|
 Steve Williamson | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Stephen Williamson |
| Born | 28 June 1964 |
| Origin | London, England |
| Occupation(s) | saxophonist, composer |
| Instruments | Tenor, soprano and alto saxophones, keyboards |
| Years active | 1982 – present |
| Labels | Verve, Universal Distribution, Polydor |
| Associated acts | Louis Moholo, Chris McGregor, Jazz Warriors, Julian Joseph |
| Website |
stevewilliamson |
Steve Williamson (born 28 June 1964) is an English saxophonist and composer.(tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, keyboard and composition). He has been called "one of the most distinctive saxophone voices in contemporary British jazz".[1]
Biography
Born in west London to Jamaican parents, Steve Williamson began playing saxophone at the age of 16 and started his career playing in reggae bands, including Misty in Roots.[2]
In 1984 and 1985 he studied at London's Guildhall School of Music, where he was tutored by Lionel Grigson. Williamson was a member of the noted collective of British-born black jazz musicians who came together as the Jazz Warriors in the mid-1980s.[3]
At the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday open-air festival in 1988 Williamson played alongside Courtney Pine in Wembley Stadium and afterwards was a constant presence at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. He was member of Louis Moholo's Viva La Black (1988) and of Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath (1990). During the 1990s he led his own band and appeared in projects of Iain Ballamy, Maceo Parker, Bheki Mseleku, US3, and Graham Haynes.
In 1990 Williamson released his first album A Waltz for Grace with Verve, featuring vocalist Abbey Lincoln. In 1992 he released his second album, Rhyme Time, followed by Journey to Truth in 1994, featuring Cassandra Wilson.
Discography
As Leader
- A Waltz for Grace (Verve, 1990, with Abbey Lincoln)
- Rhyme Time (Verve, 1992, with Cassandra Wilson)
- Journey To Truth (Nippon Phonogram, 1994)
As Sideman
- Jazz Warriors, Out of Many, One People (1987)
Sources
- Martin Kunzler, Jazz-Lexikon, vol. 2, 2002. ISBN 3-499-16513-9
References
- ↑ "Steve Williamson", World Heart Beat Music Academy.
- ↑ "Steve Williamson Pt.1", UK Vibe, 2014.
- ↑ Steve Williamson biography, Jazz Services.
External links
- Steve Williamson discography at Discogs
- "Steve Williamson Pt.1", "Steve Williamson Pt.2". Interview by Michael J Edwards, UK Vibe.