Ben Williams, NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Bassist Ben Williams is a rising jazz star. He won the 2009 Thelonious Monk Competition and received a recording contract for his debut album, State of Art, which was released this summer. Williams brought his band Sound Effect to perform two songs from that album at the NPR Music offices.

Set List:
"Home"
"Dawn Of A New Day"

For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ben Williams
• Sound Effect
• Home
• Dawn of a New Day
• NPR Music
• Tiny Desk Concerts

[adims654]

finally a white token.

[Satanicm0nk]

Holy poop, this is groovy stuff

[lewildesen1]

Do none of you know that jazz has been b-w integrated longer than almost anything? no need to talk about tokens here, just enjoy the groove!

[finkadink99]

@adims654 or four tokens and a white guy

[ben23232]

these guys are awesome! they look like they're havin a lot of fun too.

[ben23232]

@adims654 he would only qualify as a white token if he were the bass player... and a white dude on bass in an all black jazz group? yeah right. ;-) white men cant jump, and white dudes cant funk out a bass like black dudes.. just facts of life ;-)

[arfurlife]

If this is elevator music as some have suggested then in future I'm grabbing  a bottle, my girl and heading fr the nearest elevator and boogy ing down! great little band

[Eoraptor1]

@Abeba323 Thank you for your kind words. I'll try living up to them.

JAMES

[Abeba323]

@Eoraptor1 @jaksspring97 @SILOETTE100page wish everyone in youtube comments sections responded with as much civility as you guys. the world really DOES have enough "internet tough guys"...thanks :)

[willschmidguitar]

What's the make of that guitar?

[SILOETTE100page]

@jaksspring97

hey man i completely understand your view, as a person and a musician who has only gotten into jazz in the past 3 years I wanted to let you know that just like any other genre you have to listen to the "right" stuff that appeal to you first and then you get swept in so to say.

So what have you listened to as far as jazz goes? I would like to help you find some jazz artists you like if you would allow me too.

[mc2trio]

My dog litterally  turned around and started to run in circles when he heard this!

[Eoraptor1]

@jaksspring97

We'll call it a difference of opinion then. I'm not out to pick a fight. The world has enough Internet Tough Guys.

JAMES

[jaksspring97]

@Eoraptor1 I like getting updates from NPR TinyDeskConcert. they introduce me to many artists i'd never think to find on my own. My comment was just a simple opinion. (Isn't that the point of a comment section?) I gave this band a chance and still don't like jazz. I know how silly it is to wish for a real piano in this tiny office concert, but that electric piano sounds like shit. I'm not bashing his skill, only the terrible sound of his instrument.

[Eoraptor1]

@jaksspring97

This simply makes no sense to me; blaming one type of music for not being ANOTHER type of music. Why not listen to music you DO like instead of guzzling hater-ade?

JAMES

[WingedDrant]

@jaksspring97 That's some high quality elevator music. Are you by chance Willy Wonka?

[jaksspring97]

I tried. I just don't like jazz.  it definitely has a funk...but i keep thinking elevator music. PS ditch the electric piano. it sounds like crap.

[Mariekesone]

Slick and Smoochy!

Great Jazz...:-)

[TheJuliusJT]

smooth..