Arioso – James Williams
A brightly soaring waltz with a lyrical melody composed of ear-catching polyrhythms. Solo piano arrangement with exclusive MP3 also available.
- Recording: Steve Nelson - Sound Effect
- Recorded on: June 12, 2007
- Label: HighNote (HCD 7175)
- Concert Key: B minor
- Style: 3/4 swing (medium up)
- Vibes - Steve Nelson
- Piano - Mulgrew Miller
- Bass - Peter Washington
- Drums - Lewis Nash
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Video
- The Bill Mobley Band live at Smoke Jazz Club in New York City, 2012
- Miki Yamanaka and her trio performing James Williams' ARIOSO.
This excerpt starts right on the melody, which is in an interesting A-B1-A-B2 format, with sixteen-measure A sections and twenty-measure B sections. The eight-measure rhythm section intro which Steve Nelson uses is indicated in our C treble clef lead sheet, and it's a modification of James Williams' original recorded intro from "The Arioso Touch" / James Williams (Concord CJ 192).
Tempo choices from different recordings are very interesting. Strong compositions can work well at a variety of tempos. James Williams first recorded this piece in 1982 in a trio context (with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Higgins). At that time he conceived it at an uptempo swing, and recorded it at ca. 230. He recorded it again six years later at a faster tempo (ca. 234), again in a trio setting, but this time with bassist Charnett Moffett and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. Unfortunately, neither of these albums are, as yet, available as downloads. Steve Nelson recorded it at ca. 172, while Lewis Nash heard it slower, at ca. 152. When James wrote out his own piano arrangement, he indicated a tempo of ca. 154.When Kenny Drew, Jr. recorded James' piano arrangement for jazzleadsheets, he played it at ca. 148.
Tempo choices from different recordings are very interesting. Strong compositions can work well at a variety of tempos. James Williams first recorded this piece in 1982 in a trio context (with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Higgins). At that time he conceived it at an uptempo swing, and recorded it at ca. 230. He recorded it again six years later at a faster tempo (ca. 234), again in a trio setting, but this time with bassist Charnett Moffett and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. Unfortunately, neither of these albums are, as yet, available as downloads. Steve Nelson recorded it at ca. 172, while Lewis Nash heard it slower, at ca. 152. When James wrote out his own piano arrangement, he indicated a tempo of ca. 154.When Kenny Drew, Jr. recorded James' piano arrangement for jazzleadsheets, he played it at ca. 148.
James started recording as an Art Blakey Jazz Messenger on December 29, 1977. His last recording as a Jazz Messenger was in June, 1981. During his tenure with Art, James started a recording relationship as a leader with Concord Records. His first recording for Concord was in 1979, with a second album in 1980. James' third Concord recording, "The Arioso Touch," was his next recording after leaving the Messengers. Both Steve Nelson and Lewis Nash had played Arioso with James Williams, but not on recordings. It's interesting to note that Lewis Nash is also the drummer on Steve Nelson's recording.
Composer, trumpeter and bandleader Bill Mobley
and the Smoke Big Band (Space Time SC 215) recorded Arioso in 2011.
James Williams was a marvelous composer. He certainly could have filled his albums with nothing but his own great originals, but he was also serious about discovering and nurturing other composers. For example, on "Progress Report" he introduced two great compositions by fellow pianist Donald Brown, Affaire D'Amour (available as a big band arrangement) and Episode From A Village Dance (Quintet/Sextet).
Second Floor Music printed publications are available at MusicDispatch.com and other music stores.
Charts by James Williams
Alter Ego (Quintet/Sextet) - HL00000608, $25.00
Beauty Within (Big Band) (Arr. Geoff Keezer) - HL00000860, $45.00
Black Scholars (Sextet) - HL00000842, $25.00
A Certain Attitude (Sextet) - HL00000616, $25.00
The Changing Of The Guard (Sextet) - HL00000618, $25.00
Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.) (Quintet) - HL00000764, $25.00
Ph.D. (Sextet) - HL00000516, $25.00
Progress Report (Sextet) - HL00000686, $25.00
Rise To The Occasion (Sextet) - HL00000512, $25.00
The Soulful Mr. Timmons (Sextet/Septet) - HL00000652, $25.00
What Do You Say Dr. 'J'? (Sextet) - HL00000650, $25.00
Composer, trumpeter and bandleader Bill Mobley
and the Smoke Big Band (Space Time SC 215) recorded Arioso in 2011.James Williams was a marvelous composer. He certainly could have filled his albums with nothing but his own great originals, but he was also serious about discovering and nurturing other composers. For example, on "Progress Report" he introduced two great compositions by fellow pianist Donald Brown, Affaire D'Amour (available as a big band arrangement) and Episode From A Village Dance (Quintet/Sextet).
Second Floor Music printed publications are available at MusicDispatch.com and other music stores.
Charts by James Williams
Alter Ego (Quintet/Sextet) - HL00000608, $25.00
Beauty Within (Big Band) (Arr. Geoff Keezer) - HL00000860, $45.00
Black Scholars (Sextet) - HL00000842, $25.00
A Certain Attitude (Sextet) - HL00000616, $25.00
The Changing Of The Guard (Sextet) - HL00000618, $25.00
Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.) (Quintet) - HL00000764, $25.00
Ph.D. (Sextet) - HL00000516, $25.00
Progress Report (Sextet) - HL00000686, $25.00
Rise To The Occasion (Sextet) - HL00000512, $25.00
The Soulful Mr. Timmons (Sextet/Septet) - HL00000652, $25.00
What Do You Say Dr. 'J'? (Sextet) - HL00000650, $25.00
Solo Piano Arrangement: James wrote a beautiful solo piano arrangement that's available here along with a recording. The Kenny Drew, Jr., solo piano audition clip piano starts with the written intro.
Over a couple of sessions at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in 2009, pianist Kenny Drew, Jr., recorded a number of solo piano arrangements from Second Floor Music, including Arioso and James's Renaissance Lovers.
A folio of James Williiams: Solo Piano Arrangements is available through music distributors..
Over a couple of sessions at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in 2009, pianist Kenny Drew, Jr., recorded a number of solo piano arrangements from Second Floor Music, including Arioso and James's Renaissance Lovers.
A folio of James Williiams: Solo Piano Arrangements is available through music distributors..
- Recording: Lewis Nash - Highest Mountain
- Recorded on: September 16-18, 2011
- Label: Cellar Live (CL 091881)
- Concert Key: B minor
- Style: 3/4 swing (medium up)
- Trumpet - Jeremy Pelt
- Tenor Sax - Jimmy Greene
- Piano - Renee Rosnes
- Bass - Peter Washington
- Drums - Lewis Nash
Video
- The Bill Mobley Band live at Smoke Jazz Club in New York City, 2012.
The Lewis Nash audio excerpt also starts on the melody, which is in an interesting A-B1-A-B2 format, with sixteen-measure A sections and twenty-measure B sections. The eight-measure rhythm section intro which Steve Nelson uses is indicated in our C treble clef lead sheet, and it's a modification of James Williams' original recorded intro from "The Arioso Touch" / James Williams (Concord CJ 192).
Drummer Lewis Nash first recorded this in 2007 on vibraphonist Steve Nelson's "Sound Effect" album. Click that album cover for description and notes.
Solo Piano Arrangement: James wrote a beautiful solo piano arrangement that's available here, along with a beautiful recording of it. The Kenny Drew, Jr. solo piano audition clip piano starts with the written intro.
James Williams
March 8, 1951 – July 20, 2004
James Williams' distinguished career began in the city in which he was raised: Memphis, Tennessee. Having taken up piano at the age of thirteen, he graduated from Memphis State University in the early seventies and threw himself into his city's jazz community. Only a year after attaining his degree, Williams was hired as a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Coming to a new city opened up an entirely new scene for the young pianist, who began to play as a sideman for visiting artists like Red Norvo, Art Farmer, Sonny Stitt and Milt Jackson. When Art Blakey met him in 1977, he convinced the then-26 year-old Williams to resign from Berklee and go on tour with the Jazz Messengers, a post he held for the next four years and with whom he would win a Grammy Award nomination for the album "Straight Ahead." Read more...