Claude Williamson

Claude Berkeley Williamson was an American jazz pianist.
Williamson was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music before moving to jazz, influenced mainly by Teddy Wilson, then by Al Haig and Bud Powell. In 1947, he moved to California, working first with Teddy Edwards, then with Red Norvo in San Francisco, with Charlie Barnet in 1949, and with June Christy for two years. Later he worked with Max Roach, Art Pepper and others. Williamson was a longtime member of the Lighthouse All-Stars, performing with Bud Shank, Stan Levey, Bob Cooper, Conte Candoli and Howard Rumsey. In 1956, he became the piano player in the Bud Shank quartet. In 1968, he started working as a pianist for NBC, first on The Andy Williams Show, then for Sonny and Cher. In 1978, Williamson went back to the jazz world and released many albums, mainly for Japanese labels, often accompanied by Sam Jones and Roy Haynes. In 1995 he made a trio recording for Fresh Sound Records at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles.
His younger brother was trumpeter Stu Williamson.
He died on July 16, 2016, at the age of 89.

Discography

195t Kenton Jazz Presents: Claude Williamson Trio - Key West
1956 'Round Midnight
1956 Claude Williamson
1956 Trio/Round Midnight
1958 Claude Williamson Mulls the Mulligan Scene With His Twin Jazz Pianos And Trio
1958 In Italy
1961 The Fabulous Claude Williamson Trio
1962 Theatre Party Attended By The C W Quartet
1977 Stella by Starlight
1977 Holography
1978 Blues in Front
1979 La Fiesta
1978 New Departure
1981 Tribute to Bud
1983 Claude Reigns
1987 Live! "The Sermon"
1988 Standards
1990 Memories of West Coast
1990 Standards, Vol. 2
1991 As Time Goes By
1992 South of the Border, West of the Sun
1994 El Noche De Espana
1994 Live In Tokyo
1995 Autumn In New York
1995 Hallucinations
1995 Live at the Jazz Bakery
2001 Collaboration 93
2002 Song for My Father
2006 Blue Minor
2006 Claude Williamson Trio
2008 Cleopatra's Dream

With Chet Baker

With Maynard Ferguson

With Conte Candoli

With Stan Kenton

With Barney Kessel

With Spokes Mashiyane

With Gerry Mulligan and Johnny Hodges

With Art Pepper

With Dizzy Reece and Ted Curson

With Pete Rugolo

With Bud Shank