With all of the great musicians playing at Tucson’s Century Room for the past two years, a hometown trumpeter/vocalist was showcased earlier this month. James Williams, with the New Orleans-based Swamp Donkeys is a born and bred Tucsonan. We first met him in New Orleans at the Jazz Fest in 2017. Guest vocalist Alia Shawkat joined the band for that set with Sam Friend (bj), Miles Lyons (sousa), Nick Garrison (tb), Josh “Jams” Marotta (dr) and Connor Stewart (reeds).
Alia is a young actress most associated with the TBS comedy Search Party and the cult classic sitcom Arrested Development—I remember it was a terrific set and was pleasantly surprised when they were invited to perform at the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival in Chandler that same year in November. The band changed slightly for that festival with the substitution of Ricardo Pascal (reeds) and Doyle Cooper (sousa). Since then we have seen James at the Maison Bourbon in New Orleans and on Frenchmen Street just outside the French Quarter.
James also leads The James Williams New Orleans Jazz Quintet (p, bs, drums and sax/tb) and the New Orleans Classic Big Band with various other musicians. He has performed all over the world and it was a pleasure to know his roots started only a few miles from the Century Room itself.
James Williams (photo by Ken Arnold)[
