"One of the greatest jazz pianists I have ever heard" - Dave Brubeck ... read more

"Jessica Williams is a beautiful player" - McCoy Tyner ... read more

"One of the top pianists of today, she is a giant, consistently brilliant" - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide ... read more

Two-time Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim Recipient Jessica Williams is a well-known and highly respected jazz pianist and composer. She has released over 45 albums in a career spanning as many years. She worked with Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, Leroy Vinnegar, Eddie Harris, Charlie Rouse, Stan Getz ... read more

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Awards and Honors

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The John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship

Jessica Williams received the prestigious Fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in the field of composition. It enabled her to completely revitalize her music by presenting it in a highly focused manner in appropriate venues, and by performing her new and original works on the world concert stage.

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation provides fellowships for advanced professionals in all fields; natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the creative arts.

During the last forty years, Jessica has produced more than 350 original compositions, released over 50 CDs of music - much of it original solo piano material - and won awards and honors in many disciplines for many varied activities. The John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship is a highly-valued and great honor held by only a very few jazz artists. Benny Golson and O'Dean Pope are both recent deserving recipients.

awards and honors

Jessica Williams has received the following honors and awards:

  • The John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship
  • Grammy Nominee 1986, Best Instrumental Jazz Album
  • National Endowment for the Arts ('88, '92)
  • Alice B. Toklas Fellowship Money for Women 1993
  • Rockefeller Grant 1990
  • Record of the Year 1994, 1995, Jazz Journal International
  • Presented a plaque of civic appreciation from Mayor Anne Rudin (CA)
  • Meet the Composer Grant 1991
  • Keys to the City of Sacramento 1989
  • Sacramento Arts Commission, four grants, 1984-88
  • Keys to the City of San Mateo 1997
  • Artist of the Year Award Santa Cruz County 2002
  • One of the TOP 5 CDs of 2000 (JazzTimes Critics Poll; In the Key of Monk)
  • One of the TOP 5 CDs of 1999 (JazzTimes Critics Poll; Joyful Sorrow)
  • 18 Special Awards Panel Grants from ASCAP for composition
  • Headlines Women In Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center 2004
  • Headlines Art Tatum Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center 2003
  • Grammy Nominee 2004, Best Instrumental Jazz Album
  • 2005 Best Jazz Album of the Year (Live at Yoshi's, Vol 2), All About Jazz
  • Opens Mary Lou WIlliams Women In Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center 2006
  • Duke University in NC, Oct 2007

She has won the praise of critics and musicians:

  • 'One of the greatest jazz pianists I have ever heard.' - Dave Brubeck
  • 'Jessica is a beautiful player.' - McCoy Tyner
  • 'The most important pianist to arrive since Bill Evans.' - Alun Morgan, Gramophone
  • 'I'm running out of superlatives to describe her playing!' - Humphrey Littleton, BBC
  • 'A vibrant force on the contemporary music scene.' - Rolling Stone
  • 'She should be heard by everyone who cares about jazz.' - William Stephenson, Jazziz Magazine

She has performed or headlined at:

  • The Kennedy Center
  • North Sea Jazz Festival
  • Monterey Jazz Festival
  • Telluride Jazz Festival
  • Seattle Jazz Festival
  • West Can Jazz Festival
  • Wigan Jazz Festival
  • Wales Jazz Festival
  • Molde Jazz Festival
  • La Spezia Jazz Festival
  • Bern Jazz Festival
  • Ottawa Jazz Festival
  • Spoleto Jazz Festival
  • Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival
  • San Francisco Jazz Festival
  • Anacortes Jazz Festival
  • Healdsburg Jazz Festival
  • Merkin Hall
  • Carnegie Hall
  • Concert Halls, Japan and South Korea
  • The Royal Exchange, London

She has been the featured artist on:

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