Irv Williams

Irvin Williams (August 17, 1919 – December 14, 2019) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Throughout his nine-decade career, Williams focused on the Great American Songbook and the tenor sax as a solo vehicle.

Musical history His first instrument was the violin before switching to the clarinet and then to the tenor saxophone.

In 1942 Williams moved to Saint Paul (Minnesota). In his early career, he played in bands behind Ella Fitzgerald, Fletcher Henderson, Mary Lou Williams, and Billy Eckstine at venues such as the Apollo Theater or the Howard Theater. Turning down invitations to go on tour with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, or Louis Armstrong, he chose to stay and become part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul (Twin Cities), history.

Personal life Williams had nine children from two marriages. 2010 – Appeared on the cover of Saint Paul Almanac Inducted into the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame His former saxophone has been integrated into the "Minnesota’s Greatest Generation" exhibit at the Minnesota History Center

Discography Keep the Music Playing (1994) Peace, with Strings (1996) STOP Look and Listen (2000) Encore (2001) That’s All (2004) Dedicated To You CD (2005) Duo - Irv Williams and Peter Schimke (2006) Finality (2008) Duke’s Mixture (2011) Then Was Then, Now Is Now (2014) Pinnacle - Irv Williams Trio (2015)

Filmography 2012 – featured in Arts and the Mind, a documentary on PBS 2012 – The Funkytown Movie, music documentary by Megabien Entertainment