Roy Williams (Trombone)

Born in Salford in 1937 Roy began his playing career playing tailgate trombone around the Manchester area with Eric Batty’s Jazz Aces, a local group. Soon afterwards he joined Terry Lightfoot and matured rapidly in both technique and ideas until, in 1965, he was invited to join Alex Welsh and “turned into a world-class talent, a perfect amalgam of Urbie Green and Jack Teagarden with a hint of Bob Brookmeyer here and there” (Digby Fairweather). After a tremendously successful period he eventually left thirteen years later to join Humphrey Lyttelton where he stayed for four years. His reputation firmly established he became a freelance, won many jazz polls, played in America and throughout Europe and became a great favourite at jazz festivals as a soloist and with all-star groups. The broadcaster and trumpeter, Digby Fairweather, sums up as follows:

“Roy Williams is the natural heir to George Chisholm: consistent, perfectly musical and with a pianissimo close-to-the-microphone approach that recalls Jack Teagarden, he has become ‘first trombone call’ for British and many American musicians in his style.”

The Pendle Jazzmen are pleased and honoured to welcome him as their very special guest.

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