Drew Williams is a composer, multi-reedist, and educator whose work draws on diverse inspiration from his jazz and classical studies to his love of rock and popular music.
Drew’s band, the eleven-piece Wing Walker Orchestra, released its debut album in February 2019 on ears&eyes Records. Produced by GRAMMY-nominee Alan Ferber, Hazel is a great introduction to one of the East Coast's liveliest ensembles led by Drew, who plays bass clarinet on the album. The album boasts serial surprises, including an adventurous suite written and arranged by Drew that is based on the popular graphic novel, Saga, and an intoxicating cover of Tune-Yards' "Look Around." Hazel is a work of airy futurism with its layered effects and electronic touches. The New York Times described it as “a remarkable debut album” and Downbeat Magazine named it one of the best albums of 2019. Additionally, they performed and collaborated with Festival of New Trumpet Music from 2016 through 2019 which is organized by Dave Douglas. Over the three festivals, they arranged music by and performed alongside Shane Endsley, Ralph Alessi, Jason Palmer, Jonathan Finlayson, and Jaimie Branch.
In addition to the Orchestra, Drew has toured and performed extensively across the country playing at prominent venues such as Jazz Gallery (NYC), Cornelia Street Cafe (NYC), Blue Whale (LA), and the Blue Room (KC). He also composes and arranges for jazz ensembles, symphony orchestra, youth chorus, and film. His big band composition, Warren, premiered at the Jazz Composers Showcase at Jazz Gallery in 2020. For five years, he worked as an arranger for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, working closely with Director and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Francisco J. Núñez. In addition to composing and arranging hundreds of pieces for the chorus, he arranged one of Francisco’s compositions for symphony orchestra, which premiered at Carnegie Hall.
An educator for over a decade, Drew helps students qualify for All-State band on multiple instruments. Additionally, he teaches clinics and workshops at universities and high schools around the country, blending the process of composition with improvisation. The clinic tackles the often frustrating process of coming up with an initial idea. The method involves a fast-paced exchange of improvisations to blast through the insecurities and hangups that often plague new (and sometimes even more experienced) improvisers and composers. By teaching the students to come up with ideas quickly and to develop those ideas based on their own instincts, improvisation and composition become more practical, tangible, and less elusive.
Drew recently moved back to his hometown of Kansas City, MO having spent eight years in New York City. Drew graduated with a MM in Jazz Studies from New York University and a BM in classical saxophone performance from Truman State University. He is currently pursuing a D.M.A. in composition from the University of Kansas where he is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Jazz Studies.
