Originally from Oberlin, Ohio, jazz drumming instructor Jeff Williams attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied with Alan Dawson while majoring in arranging and composition.
Jeff began his professional career with the Stan Getz Quartet in 1972, subsequently forming the ECM recording and touring cooperative Lookout Farm with Dave Liebman in 1974. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, John Abercrombie, Paul Bley, Cedar Walton and many more.
Jeff has conducted ensembles and given one-to-one drumming instruction at Birmingham Conservatoire, The New School, Long Island University, the University of Connecticut and Maine Jazz Camp. Since establishing a second home in London in 2005 he has performed with Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Martin Speake, Nikki Iles, Hans Koller, Mike Gibbs and with his own UK-based group featuring Finn Peters, Josh Arcoleo, Phil Robson, Kit Downes and Sam Lasserson.
Jeff appears on numerous recordings, including his latest as composer/leader on Another Time and The Listener with his New York-based group featuring Duane Eubanks, John O'Gallagher and John Hébert (Whirlwind Recordings Ltd.), as well as on Concert In The Amazon that features his UK band recorded live during a tour of Brazil (Willful Archives).