[Dixielandjazz] Roy Williams

[Gerard Bielderman]

Below the biography part, written by Norman Simpson, for my Roy Williams
Discography, published as no.22 in my "Eurojazz Discos" series.

Roy Williams was born in Salford, Lancashire on March 7, 1937. His career
followed, if you'll forgive the pun, the "traditional" route, playing
trombone in the '50s with the local Southern Stompers and later with the
revivalist band co-led by bassist Eric Batty and trumpeter Dizzy Burton.

His next gig was an extended one with, as British jazzers of a decade
before described it, "King George not King Oliver" - ie. National Service.
Following his release from the army, in 1960 Roy turned pro with the
southern based band of trumpeter Mike Peters. This was the height of the
over maligned Trad Boom when traditional bands appeared like wildfire on the
British scene.

Trumpeter Alan Elsdon left Terry Lightfoot in May 1961 to form his own band
taking with him trombonist Phil Rhodes. Roy joined Lightfoot and immediately
made his mark as a player of great potential.

Roy's playing developed so much with the Lightfoot band that when Roy
Crimmins departed suddenly from the Alex Welsh Band in April 1965, Roy
Williams was a natural choice as a replacement.

The Welsh band at that time had an exciting new look with "new" boys John
Barnes and Jim Douglas and "old-timers" Fred Hunt and Lennie Hastings. The
Welsh band was a natural choice to play with (as distinct from merely
accompanying) a whole stream of visiting American musicians in the mid
'60s - mostly sponsored by the Manchester Sports Guild, eg. Earl Hines, Ruby
Braff, Pee Wee Russell, Rex Stewart, etc. Playing with musicians of such
calibre was a tremendous catalyst in the development of Roy's playing. He
had always been a fine ensemble player but his solo technique and style
improved dramatically over this period as recordings will testify.

The artistic height of the Welsh band's career was their visit to the '68
Newport Jazz Festival where Roy's playing was singled out for praise by the
critics.

Roy's stay with Alex Welsh lasted 13 years but in February 1978, after some
personality and musical differences in the band, he left to pursue a solo
career. By that time he was established not only as the top UK jazz
trombonist but received the accolade, 4 years running, of being voted Jazz
Journal International's No 1 on trombone.

Roy recorded extensively from the mid '70s outwith the Welsh band and
continued to do so when he joined the Humphrey Lyttelton Band in September
1978, renewing links with his old colleague and friend John Barnes. In
addition to his work with Humph, Roy joined the Pizza Express All Stars and
the appropriately named group "Five a Slide".

Pressures of competing engagements lead to Roy leaving the Lyttelton band in
April 1983 and returning to solo work. Solo work has its disadvantages, eg.
working with local rhythm sections, but Roy has played in a wide variety of
settings which have served to showcase his remarkable talents, which are
clearly demonstrated on the many recordings in this discography.

Roy is also a hell of a nice guy in addition to being a very fine musician
and hopefully this discography will give some documented recognition to his
work as a jazz musician of truly international calibre.





Gerard Bielderman, Leie 18, 8032 ZG Zwolle, Netherlands
Publisher of EUROJAZZ DISCOS, SWINGIN' AMERICANS, SOUNDS OF NEW ORLEANS.