Tag: Jack Williams

So I started off Saturday morning by deciding I would listen to some music from each of the music genres I listen to most often. Sometimes it would be new music and sometimes music that,s been in my music library for a long time.

Discovering Jack Williams

I actually picked an album that’s been in my library since the late 90s early 00s. Jack Williams’ 1997 release Across the Winterline. I bought the CD in the bargain bin at Tunes in Mount Laurel, NJ. I bought it at a time when my sons and I would go to Tunes almost every week. They were in their teens and I was getting back into buying music for me!

Anyway I fell in love with Jack’s guitar playing and his songs about life in the south i’ve been a fan since then .

The Music of Jack Williams

From Jack’s website

Jack Williams’ music has its , roots in his native South Carolina. Additionally, it has been shaped by his 65-year career. Along the way Jack has played folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 30s, 40s and 50s.

He is counted among the most dynamic performers of his day– Dave Humphreys of Two-Way Street Coffeehouse in Downer’s Grove, IL.says Jack is“…one of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I’ve ever encountered“

Jack is considered a “musician’s musician”, an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar

Buzz from his website

“…. his artistry… is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere.”
Rich Warren, WFMT “Midnight Special”, Chicago IL

I posted the above stuff from his website because they can tell you about Jack better than I can! All I can say he’s great and listen to his wonderful music! As for me, I need to check out and get a couple of his recent CDs

Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Jack Williams

Artist’s Webstie
Facebook
Youtube
Jack’s Store

The Video

Here’s Jack performing a song from Across the Winterliine “Mama Lou” One of my favorites>

 

This morning I decided that it was a good day to listen to one of my favorite folk artists so I qued up Jack Williams on the mp3 player and listened to his album Laughing in the Face of the Blues. If you like great guitar picking coupled with great songs about the south and common folks then you’ll like Jack Williams’ music.

Discoverig the Music of Jack Williams

I first stumbled across Jack’s music in the bargain bin of my favorite used record store where I found his album Across the Winterline . I took it home listened to I think the first two songs and I knew that I had a new favorite!

Here’s what others think of Jack’s music:

From his website and CDBaby:

…. his artistry… is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere.”
Rich Warren, WFMT “Midnight Special”, Chicago IL

Skilled finger picking with a [Southern] rhythmic musical style that’s equal parts folk storytelling and Tin Pan Alley songcraft, delivered with the impassioned soul of an old blues singer…No Depression Magazine

Listening to Laughing in the Face of the Blues

Like all of Jack’s album Laughing in the Face of the Blues is filled with great songs . Recently the album has been on my mp3 player and the songs that usually come up when the player is set to  random are “Meet Me Mama”, Laughing in the Face of the Blues” and “A Sucker for Love” all great songs and again so are the rest!

Finally Walkin’ Blues

This afternoon I continued listening to Jack and the other album on the player Walkin’ Dreams. Which is also full of great songs! The album opens with “A Natural Man” written about one of Jack’s heroes  Josh White. Other songs include “An English Moment” about returning to the home of his ancestors.  “Mr. Cherry” about the Birmingham Church bombing, “Walkin’ Dreams” a song about walking through history and finally

“Me and My Automobile” a fun song about his car troubles that includes an excerpt from Jack’s call to “Click and Clack on NPR!

The other funny song is “In the Texas Sky” which chronicles Jack’s travails while taking his friend Al Grierson’s remains to their final resting place! Of the two albums I think Walkin’ Dreams had more listens.

Looking at  his website I see that his new CD The High Road Home is due out this summer and I can’t wait. Oh maybe I’ll pre-order it! Anyway until then I’ll just listen to what I have and watch the DVD High Cotton a collection of live performances.

So if you don’t know Jack’s music check him out you won’t be disappointed –

The Video

Jack performing “Natural Mam” from Walkin’ Dreams