Focus – James Williams

Our audio excerpts give you two very different treatments. James' duo recording with bassist Dennis Irwin was the first recording of Focus. James recorded it three more times himself.

Our lead sheet gives you the big picture. The intro suggestion is sixteen measures of E lydian for the rhythm section. James plays eight measures E lydian (Latin) on the duo recording as an intro that precedes the audio excerpt, which starts right on the melody. Note: the lead sheets under each album cover are identical.

James next recorded Focus in 1980, on his Concord album "Images (Of Things to Come)," using no introduction, starting right on the melody. The feeling is 2-feel uptempo swing (ca. 256) with "time" on the hi-hat for the melody.

Lastly, James recorded another duo version (ca. 248, sixteen-measure E lydian intro) this time with bassist Peter Washington as part of his last expansive 4 CD duo project (from "Jazz Dialogs, Vol 2").

1977 was the first year James recorded professionally. He started the year with his own album, "Flying Colors" on Zim Records. Exactly five months later he recorded his second album, the duo recording with bassist Dennis Irwin. To close out the year, on December 29 and 29, James recorded his first two albums ("In My Prime," volumes 1 & 2) as a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

Solo Piano Arrangement: Don Sickler's Solo Piano Arrangement is also available. As Don has mentioned in other notes, if he can play it on piano (he's a trumpet player), it's not too hard.

Our second audio excerpt comes from Bill Easley's recording and features James' nephew, drummer Tony Reedus, in an arrangement that separates the melody phrases with four-measure drum solos. This recording is uptempo Latin (starting at ca. 292).

The lead sheet also includes James's tag coda that he often used.

Bill Easley first recorded with composer/pianist James Williams in 1977, on James's "Flying Colors" album. He recorded again with James in 1984 and 1985, both times on other albums led by James. In 1990, Bill returned the compliment by inviting James to to play on his first CD as a leader, "First Call.'

Solo Piano Arrangement: Don Sickler's Solo Piano Arrangement is also available. As Don has mentioned in other notes, if he can play it on piano (he's a trumpet player), it's not too hard.