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m As publisher & collaborator to Davey Williams, I edited the text to more accurately update his involvement & list of works & accomplishments to be more factual, thorough & inclusive for those who will research & archive his work.
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m the-improvisor.com became http://the-improvisor.org which is still up as an archive
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==Biography==
==Biography==
Williams began playing guitar when he was 12. He played in rock bands in high school, and studied with [[blues]] musician [[Johnny Shines]] from the late 1960s until 1971. In the early 1970s Williams played in the [[University of Alabama]] B Jazz Ensemble and the Salt & Pepper Soul Band. In 1973, he met [[LaDonna Smith]] and formed a life-long collaboration touring the United States, Canada and Europe as Trans, and recording 9 LPs, cassettes and CD's on their label, [[Transmuseq]] Records. They were co-editors and publishers ''the improvisor'', magazine-journal of free improvisation as a project of the Improvisor's Network, the first American net-working organization for free improvisation The journal became an internet publication www.the-improvisor.com in 1991celebrating it's 30th anniversary in 2010 completing it's active run. Williams published ''Solo Gig, Essential Curiosities in Musical Free Improvisation, and Fried Egg'' (a cartoon book), & in 2022 his semi-autobiographical illustrated book, ''Charmed I'm Sure''. He has contributed articles on free improvisation in numerous music magazines (<nowiki>http://the-improvisor.org</nowiki>) and contributed to surrealist publications.
Williams began playing guitar when he was 12. He played in rock bands in high school, and studied with [[blues]] musician [[Johnny Shines]] from the late 1960s until 1971. In the early 1970s Williams played in the [[University of Alabama]] B Jazz Ensemble and the Salt & Pepper Soul Band. In 1973, he met [[LaDonna Smith]] and formed a life-long collaboration touring the United States, Canada and Europe as Trans, and recording 9 LPs, cassettes and CD's on their label, [[Transmuseq]] Records. They were co-editors and publishers ''the improvisor'', magazine-journal of free improvisation as a project of the Improvisor's Network, the first American net-working organization for free improvisation The journal became an internet publication http://the-improvisor.org in 1991celebrating it's 30th anniversary in 2010 completing it's active run. Williams published ''Solo Gig, Essential Curiosities in Musical Free Improvisation, and Fried Egg'' (a cartoon book), & in 2022 his semi-autobiographical illustrated book, ''Charmed I'm Sure''. He has contributed articles on free improvisation in numerous music magazines (<nowiki>http://the-improvisor.org</nowiki>) and contributed to surrealist publications.


Other musical collaborations include his local blues band called [[Trains in Trouble]] (1980-1988). In 1986 Williams joined [[Curlew (band)|Curlew]], who released several albums on [[Cuneiform Records]] in the 1990s. In the early 1990's, he worked with [[Col. Bruce Hampton]] and his local group [[OK, Nurse]], played in a [[punk rock]] band called [[Fuzzy Sons]] and an improvisational three-piece called Say What? He has worked with [[Jim Staley]] and [[Ikue Mori]] and was an active organizer in the local improvisation scene in Birmingham, Alabama. He also worked briefly as a music critic for the ''[[Birmingham News]]'' and published freelance criticism elsewhere. Overall, he appeared live at some 1,500 concerts worldwide.
Other musical collaborations include his local blues band called [[Trains in Trouble]] (1980-1988). In 1986 Williams joined [[Curlew (band)|Curlew]], who released several albums on [[Cuneiform Records]] in the 1990s. In the early 1990's, he worked with [[Col. Bruce Hampton]] and his local group [[OK, Nurse]], played in a [[punk rock]] band called [[Fuzzy Sons]] and an improvisational three-piece called Say What? He has worked with [[Jim Staley]] and [[Ikue Mori]] and was an active organizer in the local improvisation scene in Birmingham, Alabama. He also worked briefly as a music critic for the ''[[Birmingham News]]'' and published freelance criticism elsewhere. Overall, he appeared live at some 1,500 concerts worldwide.

Revision as of 21:58, 30 September 2022

Davey J. Williams (1952, York, Alabama – April 5, 2019) was an American free improvisation and avant-garde music guitarist. He is noted as one of the founding fathers of free improvisation in America and for his theoretical writing on free Improvisation. In addition to his solo and duo work, he performed in the NY free jazz band Curlew and for his collaborations with many of the world's improvisational music improvisers.

Davey Williams

Biography

Williams began playing guitar when he was 12. He played in rock bands in high school, and studied with blues musician Johnny Shines from the late 1960s until 1971. In the early 1970s Williams played in the University of Alabama B Jazz Ensemble and the Salt & Pepper Soul Band. In 1973, he met LaDonna Smith and formed a life-long collaboration touring the United States, Canada and Europe as Trans, and recording 9 LPs, cassettes and CD's on their label, Transmuseq Records. They were co-editors and publishers the improvisor, magazine-journal of free improvisation as a project of the Improvisor's Network, the first American net-working organization for free improvisation The journal became an internet publication http://the-improvisor.org in 1991celebrating it's 30th anniversary in 2010 completing it's active run. Williams published Solo Gig, Essential Curiosities in Musical Free Improvisation, and Fried Egg (a cartoon book), & in 2022 his semi-autobiographical illustrated book, Charmed I'm Sure. He has contributed articles on free improvisation in numerous music magazines (http://the-improvisor.org) and contributed to surrealist publications.

Other musical collaborations include his local blues band called Trains in Trouble (1980-1988). In 1986 Williams joined Curlew, who released several albums on Cuneiform Records in the 1990s. In the early 1990's, he worked with Col. Bruce Hampton and his local group OK, Nurse, played in a punk rock band called Fuzzy Sons and an improvisational three-piece called Say What? He has worked with Jim Staley and Ikue Mori and was an active organizer in the local improvisation scene in Birmingham, Alabama. He also worked briefly as a music critic for the Birmingham News and published freelance criticism elsewhere. Overall, he appeared live at some 1,500 concerts worldwide.

Williams was active in the international Surrealist movement, publishing articles and artworks in Surrealist compendiums such as City LIghts Review, Arsenal, Discours, Voice of the Unicorn, Glass Veal I & II, The Dirt Furnace, the Divining Tongue, and http://fresh-dirt.us.


Williams died in Birmingham, Alabama on April 5, 2019, from spinal cancer.[1]

Discography

References

  1. ^ "Heart of the Matter With Davey Williams". Green Bucket Press. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
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