Let's take a look at what's in store lineup-wise for the upcoming Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival. I'd like to begin with one of the first acts I booked for our 35th annual Festival.
In the fall of 2009, I received a note from Ezra Idlet of Trout Fishing in America. Trout Fishing performed at Summerfolk last August and Ezra (the tall one), along with partner Keith Grimwood, make up the popular duo that is one of our long-time favourites at Summerfolk.
"I'm writing because I'd love to send you a cd of a friend of mine. I have no connection to him professionally, I just think he'd be a great addition to Summerfolk" said Erza's email.
"I don't know if you've ever heard of Jack Williams. Jack lives in Arkansas these days somewhere between Keith and I. I think he's one of the most amazing songwriters, singers, and musicians I've
ever met. I think he'd add to any workshop you put him in from songwriting to instrumental. His solo work is just wonderful. Anyway, if I can send you a copy of his cd I'd sure like to".
I answered back to the affirmative and sure enough, Ezra sent me a copy of Laughing in the Face of the Blues. It didn't take long to realize that Jack Williams would be a perfect artist for Summerfolk. Exceptional guitar work, fabulous songs and heartfelt vocals; all delivered with confidence, sincerity and character.
When I started looking into his history, Jack's career has been eclectic. He played trumpet in a jazz quartet at a Seattle beatnik coffeehouse in 1959 - reading poetry to the audience during breaks. He learned banjo and mandolin to spice up folk groups in the 60's in Georgia. He played pedal-steel guitar in a country-rock band and classical guitar in a Renaissance ensemble.
"I was raised listening to everything from the Dorsey Brothers and pop tunes of the mid-40s to Brahms, Mozart and Chopin. I was fortunate to have grown up with none of the pressures of today’s corporate music-biz to lead me down a narrow path. I played folk songs on the ukelele from the time I was four, pop and classical piano from age six and jazz on the trumpet from age nine. Then I discovered the guitar at age fifteen. I would play more styles than just the rock & roll but discovered that could earn money - and eventually a living."
From 1958 through 1987, Jack was best-known as an electric guitarist working shows with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Jerry Butler, Z.Z. Hill, Hank Ballard and many others. During that era, his bands also backed up artists such as the Shirelles, the Del-Vikings, the Coasters, the Drifters, and the Platters.
His skill with instrumental composition won him a national arts grant in 1967. That led to gigs accompanying legendary singer/songwriters like Mickey Newbury, Harry Nilsson, Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow and Steve Gillette.
After many years of travelling with rock bands, jazz combos and accompanying other performers - playing anywhere he could get paid to play music, Williams took on a solo career in folk music.
Jack is now a much sought-after artist on contemporary folk music stages. From his acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville and Fox Valley folk festivals; his musicianship has established him as an inspiring and influential performer.
Williams is considered a 'musician's musician' - outstanding among a handful of artists who in skill, depth and integrity stand head and shoulders above the rest. He is noted among acoustic guitarists as one of the best. By adding a pinch of self-deprecating humor, he is instantly endearing. Having avoided the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50+ year career, he has preferred touring 'under the radar' for the sheer love of music and performing.
Before beginning to write in 1970, Jack was inspired by the varied likes of Jesse Winchester, Josh White, Hank Williams, The Band, Procal Harum, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Johnny Mercer, and Ray Charles. When the spirit moves him today, songs from favourite writers spring readily from his lips and fingers.
“Every time I made another album of original tunes I knew I would pay homage to the artists, writers and styles that were the origins of my own music” Williams says. “Over many years, I imagined the songs which would be included, songs which had a profound impact on how I would write and perform my own music. I knew it was coming and I planned it for a long time."
Williams, who has written more than 500 songs, says it’s the emotion of a song that works for him. “I want to go somewhere when I hear music. Whether it’s Brahms, Miles Davis. John Lee Hooker or Johnny Mercer or Hoagie Carmichael ...I want to be taken somewhere and I want to feel something.”
A featured artist on many recording studio projects, Williams has produced all of his own recordings plus CDs by Mickey Newbury, Ronny Cox, Eric Schwartz, Carla Ulbrich, Jonell Mosser and The Malvinas. There isn’t a note on a Jack Williams CD that isn’t 'well crafted' in every sense of the word - emotional, musical, inspirational.
Jack Williams possesses a half-century of accumulated musical knowledge and incorporates the best of all he has learned to make music of the highest calibre.
Thanks for the tip Ezra.
In the fall of 2009, I received a note from Ezra Idlet of Trout Fishing in America. Trout Fishing performed at Summerfolk last August and Ezra (the tall one), along with partner Keith Grimwood, make up the popular duo that is one of our long-time favourites at Summerfolk.
"I'm writing because I'd love to send you a cd of a friend of mine. I have no connection to him professionally, I just think he'd be a great addition to Summerfolk" said Erza's email.
"I don't know if you've ever heard of Jack Williams. Jack lives in Arkansas these days somewhere between Keith and I. I think he's one of the most amazing songwriters, singers, and musicians I've
ever met. I think he'd add to any workshop you put him in from songwriting to instrumental. His solo work is just wonderful. Anyway, if I can send you a copy of his cd I'd sure like to".I answered back to the affirmative and sure enough, Ezra sent me a copy of Laughing in the Face of the Blues. It didn't take long to realize that Jack Williams would be a perfect artist for Summerfolk. Exceptional guitar work, fabulous songs and heartfelt vocals; all delivered with confidence, sincerity and character.
When I started looking into his history, Jack's career has been eclectic. He played trumpet in a jazz quartet at a Seattle beatnik coffeehouse in 1959 - reading poetry to the audience during breaks. He learned banjo and mandolin to spice up folk groups in the 60's in Georgia. He played pedal-steel guitar in a country-rock band and classical guitar in a Renaissance ensemble.
"I was raised listening to everything from the Dorsey Brothers and pop tunes of the mid-40s to Brahms, Mozart and Chopin. I was fortunate to have grown up with none of the pressures of today’s corporate music-biz to lead me down a narrow path. I played folk songs on the ukelele from the time I was four, pop and classical piano from age six and jazz on the trumpet from age nine. Then I discovered the guitar at age fifteen. I would play more styles than just the rock & roll but discovered that could earn money - and eventually a living."
From 1958 through 1987, Jack was best-known as an electric guitarist working shows with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Jerry Butler, Z.Z. Hill, Hank Ballard and many others. During that era, his bands also backed up artists such as the Shirelles, the Del-Vikings, the Coasters, the Drifters, and the Platters.
His skill with instrumental composition won him a national arts grant in 1967. That led to gigs accompanying legendary singer/songwriters like Mickey Newbury, Harry Nilsson, Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow and Steve Gillette.
After many years of travelling with rock bands, jazz combos and accompanying other performers - playing anywhere he could get paid to play music, Williams took on a solo career in folk music.
Jack is now a much sought-after artist on contemporary folk music stages. From his acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville and Fox Valley folk festivals; his musicianship has established him as an inspiring and influential performer.
Williams is considered a 'musician's musician' - outstanding among a handful of artists who in skill, depth and integrity stand head and shoulders above the rest. He is noted among acoustic guitarists as one of the best. By adding a pinch of self-deprecating humor, he is instantly endearing. Having avoided the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50+ year career, he has preferred touring 'under the radar' for the sheer love of music and performing.
Before beginning to write in 1970, Jack was inspired by the varied likes of Jesse Winchester, Josh White, Hank Williams, The Band, Procal Harum, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Johnny Mercer, and Ray Charles. When the spirit moves him today, songs from favourite writers spring readily from his lips and fingers.
“Every time I made another album of original tunes I knew I would pay homage to the artists, writers and styles that were the origins of my own music” Williams says. “Over many years, I imagined the songs which would be included, songs which had a profound impact on how I would write and perform my own music. I knew it was coming and I planned it for a long time."
Williams, who has written more than 500 songs, says it’s the emotion of a song that works for him. “I want to go somewhere when I hear music. Whether it’s Brahms, Miles Davis. John Lee Hooker or Johnny Mercer or Hoagie Carmichael ...I want to be taken somewhere and I want to feel something.”
A featured artist on many recording studio projects, Williams has produced all of his own recordings plus CDs by Mickey Newbury, Ronny Cox, Eric Schwartz, Carla Ulbrich, Jonell Mosser and The Malvinas. There isn’t a note on a Jack Williams CD that isn’t 'well crafted' in every sense of the word - emotional, musical, inspirational.
Jack Williams possesses a half-century of accumulated musical knowledge and incorporates the best of all he has learned to make music of the highest calibre.
Thanks for the tip Ezra.
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