BEN WILLIAMS
Ben Williams, a Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist and native of Washington, D.C., has steadily risen as one of the most celebrated and versatile bassists of his generation. Known for his powerful compositions and keen sense of social responsibility, Williams has cemented his place within Black music’s tradition of artistic activism. Emerging as a force in jazz after winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2009, Williams has performed and recorded with musical luminaries like Pat Metheny, Lauryn Hill, George Benson, Robert Glasper, and Nicholas Payton. His early records, State of Art (2011) and Coming of Age (2015), both released on Concord Records, demonstrated his technical brilliance and innovative spirit, blending jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. His music, revered by listeners and critics alike, earned him two DownBeat Rising Star awards and established him as a vital voice on both acoustic and electric bass.
Williams’ artistic journey took a bold new turn with I AM A MAN(2019), released on Rainbow Blonde, an independent label co-founded with José James. This album broke from the acoustic jazz settings of his previous work, bringing a vocal-centric approach to address pressing social issues and raise awareness around Black resilience, love, and dignity. Inspired by the Soulquarians’ ambient and layered production styles, Williams collaborated with sound engineer Brian Bender to achieve a humid, textured sound reminiscent of The Roots, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo. With I AM A MAN, Williams fully embraced his role as both musician and cultural commentator, linking his compositions to the rich heritage of Black music’s role in advocating for justice and equity.
Now, Williams’ latest project, Between Church & State, deepens his commitment to social change and artistic innovation. The project—a film and album—follows Williams as he explores his family’s legacy of activism, rooted in the Black church and Washington’s halls of power, with connections to Dr. Martin Luther King. In this journey of personal and historical discovery, Williams examines themes of spirituality, addiction, police brutality, anxiety, and Afro-futurism, weaving these issues into a moving narrative of resilience and self-reconciliation. The live concert experience of Between Church & Statecombines a screening of the documentary with live performances by Williams and his band, who use music and spoken word to immerse audiences in the story’s impact. Featuring collaborators like Kamasi Washington, Chief Adjuah (Christian Scott), Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Keyon Harrold, the accompanying album brings Williams’ talents as bassist, vocalist, and composer to new heights, supported by Justin Brown on drums, Brandon Coleman on keys, Hailey Niswager on sax, Sasha Berliner on vibraphone, and Andrew Renfroe on guitar. This immersive project places Williams at the forefront of modern Black music and continues the tradition of artists who dare to speak truth through their art.