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Darryl Williams

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Hometown	Temecula, CA
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About the Artist

Darryl Williams is an outstanding Composer, Bassist, and Producer. He has spent the last 25 years of his musical career perfoming with recording artist such as Chaka Khan, Brenda Russell,Tevin Cambell, Howard Hewitt, Angela Bofill, Skip Martin, and...

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Achievements

Specialty Finals Grand Prize Winner January 2014

Jazz Artists, Win A Year’s Supply of Free Strings & Accessories From Ernie Ball!

Jazz Winner, December 2010

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Press Coverage

Darryl Williams-"That Was Then" by Denis Poole by Smooth Jazz Therapy
Smooth jazz is the heartbeat of San Diego and the quality of the music that is currently flowing from this sun kissed city appears to know no bounds. New releases from Bradley Leighton, Patrick Yandall and Larry White have all served to raise the bar and the latest artist to come up with an absolute gem is bass and keyboard player Darryl Williams. ‘That Was Then’ is bursting with the distinct vibe synonymous with this unique part of Southern California, includes ten of Williams own compositions and bears testimony to the fact that he is very much the real contemporary jazz deal. The mood of the album is perfectly exemplified by its haunting title track. Sitting just to the tranquil side of mid tempo, and with Kamau Kenyatta providing sparse yet telling piano, this appealing slice of accessible smooth jazz is lifted yet further by excellent sax from Reggie Smith. More of the superb same comes courtesy of the wonderfully mellow ‘Goodbye’ and when Williams notches up the tempo for ‘On The Move’ the result is sunshine soaked jazz of the highest order. Here Phil Wigfall comes up big on alto sax and Michael Ray Tyler steals the show on flugelhorn and muted trumpet. Wigfall is also a major contributor to the steamy and intense ‘Costa Rica’ while it’s Tyler who returns to add his own individual brand of muted magic to ‘Gentle Thoughts’. With a melody that flows like a river it’s a tune that is evocative in the extreme yet in this respect there is none more so than the immense ‘La Jolla Shores’. Few sights are more dramatic than the waves of the Pacific breaking over this stunning stretch of coastline and Williams, with stellar help from Smith, uses his music to capture it to perfection. The CD’s only cover (and its one none instrumental) is Williams laid back take on the Randy Crawford hit ‘Everything Must Change’. It finds Ron Stanfield in fine form on vocals and although with ‘The Truth’ Williams allows things to turn a little funky, he quickly returns to the luscious vibe that typifies ‘That Was Then’. This is very much so with his tribute to the late Hollis Gentry, the astonishing ‘Time’. Gentry was a founder member of the San Diego based Fattburger and the input provided here by Fattburger’s own Evan Marks and Kevin Koch makes the cut even more special. Throughout the album Williams is immense and, in a collection that overall is of an incredibly high standard, particular mention is reserved for two tracks that are as compelling and radio ready as any released this year or last. The mellifluous and enticing ‘Take It Slow’ does exactly that. Picture perfect trumpet from Michael Ray Tyler again checks all the right boxes and with Williams melodic bass shining through this is about as good as smooth jazz gets. That said, ‘When It Rains’ is right up there with it. Featuring Reggie Smith on sax this foot tapping delight is certain to make it onto the 2008 Smooth Jazz Therapy ‘best list’. Darryl Williams has spent the last 25 years performing with the likes of Chaka Khan, Tevin Campbell, Howard Hewitt, Angela Bofill, Evan Marks, Patrick Yandall and Hollis Gentry but now is his time to take center stage. ‘That Was Then’ is a colossal first step on this journey and comes highly recommended. April 05, 2008 in CD Reviews | Permalink

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Darryl Williams

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