Jordan Williams - playing by ear

There is something surprisingly natural, almost necessary, about the way pianist Jordan Williams presents himself to the world with this debut album. The title 'Playing by Ear' is much more than an aesthetic statement: it is a stance on spontaneity, deep listening, and reliance on emotion even before structures.

Featuring jazz standards such as Herbie Hancock's 'One Finger Snap', Horace Silver's 'Peace', Kenny Garrett's 'Ms. Baja', Mal Waldron's 'Left Alone', Kenny Kirkland's 'Steepian Faith', and buster William's 'Tayamisha', plus two original by the trio's bassist Nat Reeves, this is an auspicious debut with Wilson accompanied by seasoned musicians, including drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts and trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr.

"Playing by Ear is a mature, courageous, vital debut. A record that knows how to look to the future without severing its roots. Jordan Williams plays with the soul and with the awareness of one who knows that before him the African-American idiom has already been shaped by change and revolution. And that is what makes this first step so promising. Because from here there's only room to grow." - Nicola Gaeta (from the liner notes)