Acclaimed jazz musicians to perform at Claremont Graduate University on October 4

Chris Williams, winner of the numerous vocal jazz awards, will be performing with his All-Star Band that includes 5 Grammy Award winners

Fullerton, CA October 1, 2010—Jazz singer Chris Williams and his All Star Jazz Band will perform in the Harper Courtyard at Claremont Graduate University on Monday, October 4. The concert begins at 5:15 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Canadian-born jazz vocalist Chris Williams has impressed audiences with his intense passion, vocal proficiency and musical maturity. He has built a loyal following, as his highly entertaining performances are met with great enthusiasm by people of all ages.

The band features five Grammy Award winners and includes Latin jazz legend Ramon Banda on drums; Dr. Scott Tibbs on piano; Kye Palmer from the Tonight Show Band on trumpet; Scott Martin on alto saxophone; Francisco Torres on trombone; Edmund Velasco on tenor saxophone; and Bryan Brock on percussion.

The performance is part of an afternoon of jazz sponsored by the Transdisciplinary Studies Program.

Prior to the performance, Ben Alexander of Queens College, The City University of New York, will lead a discussion entitled “Remembering America's Music: Jazz Recording and the Archive."

Although the lecture is part of the Transdisciplinary Studies class Jazz, Politics and American Culture, it is also open to the public and free to attend. Alexander's talk will be at 4 p.m. in Burkle 26.

Chris Williams won a 2007 Orange County Music Award for his Latin jazz. In addition, he performs straight-ahead and bebop jazz while infusing new twists into the old standards. Chris has been touted as a “Fabulous Find" by KLAC radio, featured on the Fox 11 News, and received radio recognition on KKJZ 88.1 FM with Helen Borgers and on KABC 790 AM with Doug McIntyre. In Canada, his music can be heard on AM740 in the Toronto area.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Chris began by singing gospel music in his parents' church as a young boy. After moving to White Rock, British Columbia, he studied under the highly acclaimed musical director Dave Proznick at Semiahmoo Secondary School. While in this program, Chris began performing professionally as a drummer and vocalist. He has earned many awards, including four vocal solo awards at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and a major scholarship to the elite Berklee College of Music in Boston.

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