James T. Williams, son of Columbus, Ohio.
From a young age James always believed he would become a saxophonist who would go on to compose music and produce other musicians. His mission is to secure his place by scoring a music contract to help him realize his dreams.
If asked his high school music teachers would say James graduated from West High School’s band room where he practiced daily for hours on end to secure first chair in two bands.
James attended The Ohio State University where classical music consumed him there too. He performs jazz, funk, R&B, and other genres of music on Bb soprano and Bb tenor saxophones. When playing contemporary music one can clearly hear his skills are layered in texture, phrasing, tone, inclination and can also find the influence of several of his favorite smooth jazz and jazz artists like Grover Washington, Jr., Sonny Rollins, Gerald Albright, and Kenny G.
As composer, James gives his all and is in the zone when he infuses a silky layer of contemporary jazz over a twist Rock and Country. As a musician, his personal style and personality is graceful and charming. At many performances James could be seen with sax in hand cutting across the room gracefully from edge-to-edge connecting people with his music. In between sets, he engages them in conversation. There have been many times when James mesmerized listeners with his artistry in perfected performances that commanded standing ovations or thunderous applause.
He won the Big Bear Balloon Festival competition and was a featured performer to open for headliner Huey Lewis and the News. He played Kroger, the Brownstone in presence of guest Cedric The Entertainer, Arlington Café, Taste of Columbus at Columbus State Community College, special event for the Ohio Department of Education, and an event at the State Office Tower. In January 2013, James played the 35th Annual Black History event, Lancaster Lodge. His skills surprised the mayor.
James would never meet his great uncle saxophonist John Henry “Bunny” Allen, but was in time to hear his great grandmother tell stories about how she witnessed Bunny play alongside some of the greats like Duke Ellington. In 2005, after the Wall of Fame Alumni Dinner song stylist Nancy Wilson asked James to reach out to her so she could give him a hand up but the contact failed.
Babs Cafrey of the Hilltop View wrote “The sax has never been Ms. Barbs’ favorite instrument, but when James Williams played the soprano sax on Kenny G’s “Wedding Song,” I was emotionally moved.”