Todd Williams, Lift Up Your Heads

[Tom Storer]

Todd Williams, tenor & soprano sax; Marcus Roberts, piano; Reginald Veal, bass; Herlin Riley, Jr., drums.

I've been listening to "Lift Up Your Heads," a new release on CD Baby by saxophonist Todd Williams. Remember him? On tenor, soprano and clarinet, Williams was a mainstay of Wynton Marsalis's quintet, septet and the LCJO from 1988 to the early 90's. A devout Christian, he left the limelight to become musical director of his church, eventually releasing an album of instrumental religious music that, judging from online samples, is of greater interest to devotees of inspiring hymns than to jazz fans. His website reports that he is currently teaching and going for a doctorate at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Perhaps this new release indicates a desire to return from jazz obscurity to renewed prominence as a performer. I hope so. I purchased it as a download and haven't been able to find any information about it online except that it's a live date where Williams calls in a backing trio of illustrious Wyntonians: Marcus Roberts on piano, Reginald Veal on bass, Herlin Riley on drums. They deliver a robust program of melodious and exuberantly swinging music, with Roberts' confident and muscular tenor (soprano on one number) taking full advantage of the top-notch rhythm section.

There is nothing conceptually challenging here, and indeed the tunes seem designed to draw in the audience with clear and simple melodies and infectious swing. The approach is sincere and effective, and the playing is, to me, pure pleasure. Roberts has a fondness for the gospel feel, and the contrast between the heat that generates and his somewhat buttoned-up ivory-tickling expertise makes for an always interesting tension. Veal provides a strong, sure bottom; Herlin Riley’s drumming is irresistible, his mastery of the New Orleans drums tradition perhaps unsurpassed (note in particular a wonderful solo on the first track). The sum total is a CD that on a surface level is catchy and hummable, and deeper down offers deft and sophisticated ensemble virtuosity. More importantly, it’s joyful and communicative. You could do much worse.