 Raised
in Cincinnati and Little Rock, Arkansas, Irv Williams first
settled in the Twin Cities in 1942 while playing in the Navy
band. Irv started out as a childhood violinist, a diminutive
youngster who charmed the crowds with his musical talent and his
undeniable “cuteness.”
His
father, a doctor, prescribed the clarinet to strengthen Irv's
lungs during a bout with bronchitis at age 11. Williams fell in
love with the horn and soon moved on to the sax – all he
wanted to do was blow the horn. This beloved tenor sax player
has worked in bands fronted by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald,
Fletcher Henderson, Mary Lou Williams, Billy Eckstine's
orchestra and many other jazz luminaries at venues like the
Apollo Theater and the Howard Theater. His warm, soulful tone
and mastery of the jazz ballad earned him the moniker “Mister
Smooth” (as bestowed by former Pioneer Press jazz writer Bob
Protzman).
Irv has
performed in just about every jazz club the Twin Cities has
hosted since WWII, including The Flame Bar where he split sets
with stars like Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie and Johnny
Hodges. An educator and mentor to countless Twin Cities
musicians, Irv's contributions to the music scene go far beyond
his estimable sax skills. He spent decades teaching in the St.
Paul public schools, guest lecturing at the University of
Minnesota, and performing with the late jazz messenger, Dr.
Reginald Buckner. Irv was the first jazz musician to be honored
by the State of Minnesota with his own “Irv Williams Day” in
1984, and had his picture on the “Celebrate Minnesota”
official state map in 1990. His many awards include induction
into the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame and receiving the Arts
Midwest Jazz Masters Award in 1995.
Now 86
years old, Irv Williams has threatened retirement on several
occasions – luckily for his fans retirement seems to be the
one musical endeavor he just can't master. Since turning 85, Irv
has released two wonderful CDs and continues to be a hard
working live performer. Describing Irv's latest CD Dedicated To
You in the Star Tribune, Tom Surowicz remarked, “It's one
thing to be prolific and vital at age 85. It's quite another for
an artist to be doing some of his best work.” Irv's CD That's
All?, released in October 2004, was named one of the “Top 20
Local Albums” of 2004 by the Star Tribune, alongside rappers,
rockers and a star named Prince.
“Notes
from Williams' saxophone seem to float on air rather than fill
it.” - Pioneer Press.
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