Interview with Ben Williams

Live Q&A from the 2021 Dutch Double Bass Festival

DDB Founder Geoff Chalmers interviews the great jazz bassist, Ben Williams at the 2021 Dutch Double Bass Festival. Topics range from singing whilst playing bass, the Sandborn Sessions with Sting, winning the 2009 Monk competition, the influence of legendary bassists, advice for students, to his favourite bass gear, strings, and much more.

Double bassist Ben Williams is known for his work as a sideman with artists such as Jacky Terrasson and Terence Blanchard, as a member of Pat Metheny’s Unity Band, and for leading his own band featuring Marcus Strickland, Gerald Clayton, and Christian Sands.

Big thanks to the Dutch Double Bass Festival for hosting this special event and to Ben Williams for sharing so much. Make sure you follow DDBF and Ben Williams using the links below.

TIMECODES:

00:00 Introduction
00:53 Touring again
01:26 Playing with Dave Sanborn
04:41 Latest record ‘I am a man’
07:42 The band
08:18 Touring programme
09:24 Bass guitar + double bass
12:54 Monk prize panel
15:12 Ron Carter
16:42 Advice for younger students
20:13 Bass inspiration from the Monk Panellists
21:50 Qualities of the Monk Panellists
23:10 Singing and playing bass
27:00 Gear