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James Williams keeps the melody uncomplicated and expansive while the chromatic harmonic progression below it is rich with complex alterations. Not only does this reflective ballad have a head that really soars, but also the difficult changes inspire incredible solos. James's five-chorus piano solo is a perfect example of what can happen when talented musicians collide with the right chart. Try Beauty Within yourself and see what it brings out of you!
Beauty Within comes from the album "Alter Ego," recorded in the summer of 1984. That year was a significant one for James: he moved from Boston (where he had settled after attending Berklee) to Brooklyn and quickly embedded himself in the New York scene. "Alter Ego" was his second release as a leader and his first as a producer; James went on to produce for many of his contemporaries after this venture.
Solo Piano Arrangement: James's own arrangement shows how this ballad can work as a piano solo. It's a great study in how to bring the lead sheet to life, especially for skilled pianists who don't have much jazz experience. To help you master Beauty Within, we offer our own exclusive audio track of acclaimed pianist Kenny Drew, Jr., playing this arrangement piano. Kenny does it at a much slower tempo than the original recording, creating a more contemplative, stately mood.
Check out all of James Williams's compositions on jazzleadsheets.com. Many have solo piano arrangements. Second Floor Music's publication which includes thirteen solos is available from MusicDispatch.com and other music dealers.
James Williams' distinguished career began in the city in which he was raised: Memphis, Tennessee. Having taken up piano at the age of thirteen, he graduated from Memphis State University in the early seventies and threw himself into his city's jazz community. Only a year after attaining his degree, Williams was hired as a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Coming to a new city opened up an entirely new scene for the young pianist, who began to play as a sideman for visiting artists like Red Norvo, Art Farmer, Sonny Stitt and Milt Jackson. When Art Blakey met him in 1977, he convinced the then-26 year-old Williams to resign from Berklee and go on tour with the Jazz Messengers, a post he held for the next four years and with whom he would win a Grammy Award nomination for the album "Straight Ahead." Read more...
