BBC Big Band Club members will know Gary Williams from his many appearances with the band both live and on Big Band Special. He also performs regularly with John Wilson?s and under John Wilson?s baton, with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

In June 2010 he had two albums being released. “Gary Williams Meets Frank Sinatra” and “Gary Williams – The Best of Abbey Road”. Both titles perhaps need some explanation. The “Abbey Road” album comprises selected recordings made at the Abbey Road Studios in London and all comprising parts of three earlier albums. “Alone Together”,”Swingin? On Broadway” and “In The Lounge With Gary Williams”.

The albums were recorded over a four-year time span and involve 55 different musicians and at least half a dozen arrangers. The musicians and the arrangers include many names and sounds familiar to BBC Big Band fans – trombone solos by Gordon Campbell, sparking piano from Andy Vintner and arranging from Richard Rodney Bennett are just some of the treats in store. I especially enjoyed the variety of musical settings on this compilation. This is very definitely a song-by-song approach and not a set of standard charts played by a set instrumentation.
There are some outstanding solos interwoven with Gary?s impeccable interpretation of lyrics – a highly recommended album – available as a CD or download. See www.garywilliams.co.uk for details. (more…)

“There are many so-called “tribute” singers who just seem to go through the motions. Gary, however, shows how it could be and should be done…”

Has Britain got talent? Well, yes, but we don’t need second rate TV shows purporting to tell us we have. Now there is a great British talent that has been on the music scene for many years and two new superb CDs have just been released that showcase the fine voice of Gary Williams.

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“These CDs are superb… I can’t recall a vocal production of this quality coming out of a British studio since the days of Matt Monro’s best work. Not only Gary’s voice, which is just so on song now, but the orchestrations and the performances of Chris Dean and co – and the wonderful audio engineering – all come together to make a breath-taking listening experience.”  Roy Oakshot Radio 2 Producer

Gary Williams is one of the most experienced Sinatra acolytes, even bearing a striking physical resemblance to the great man.

While Frank Sinatra may have passed away more than a decade ago, his aura is as strong as ever. When Michael Bublé sells out Wembley Arena, he is tapping into the Chairman’s mystique. In the West End, the success of that long-running stage tribute to the Rat Pack — currently ensconced at the Adelphi — is a sign that audiences never tire of watching Frank, Dino and Sammy singing, swinging and being naughty with the girls. Never mind that the production values have all the sophistication of Cheryl Cole’s wardrobe; the songs still work their magic.

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Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Friday 23 January 2009

This 2 and a quarter hour concert featuring the CBSO with guest conductor John Wilson and accomplished vocalists Kim Crisswell & Gary Williams was a delight. Superb playing & solos from the CBSO and guest instrumentalists made it a most memorable evening. A full house of over 2200 was treated to some of the greatest music of the 20th Century through their original film musical arrangements. It was indeed ’Swonderful. (more…)