Musician Spotlight: Brooks Williams

Brooks Williams is a world-class musician who recently made a list of the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists. He grew up in Statesboro, Georgia, the same town referred to in the famous song “Statesboro Blues,” a blues classic by Blind Willie McTell.  Later, Brooks moved north and lived in Northampton, MA, for many years.  He now resides in Cambridge, England.

Brooks mostly works as a solo act, but he sometimes takes bands on the road, usually on European tours. Thanks to YouTube, I got to watch quite a few live performances by Brooks and I was impressed by his incredible smooth technique, and the way he makes complicated figures look easy.

I recently had the chance to interview Brooks. Here’s what went down:

I think you’ll like the On-Stage Folk Cafe format. The Zeiterion is an old city theater that has been restored- the audience is on the big stage with you. It’s really cool.

Brooks: It sounds like a lovely gig!

How did you get started on your solo music career?

Brooks: I played backing guitar in a folk band when I was in my late teens – just strummy chords on an acoustic. One night, the lead singer of the band was late to a gig, and the promoter asked if anyone could play or sing anything to the audience while we waited for the lead singer to show up. I stepped up to center stage with my acoustic guitar and proceeded to play and sing a few songs – bluesy, acoustic rock kind of tunes – on my own until the lead singer/band leader arrived. I didn’t think much of it until the promoter rang me up and asked if I’d like to do a night on my own the next month. I said yes – and have continued saying yes ever since!

What kind of guitars do you use in live performances?

Brooks: A Collings acoustic and a National resonator guitar.

What is your latest project? Any new CDs?

Brooks: My latest CD is called Baby O! I recorded it in England with my “band” over there. It’s acoustic – with a distinctive “blues roots/Americana” feel.  It has some traditional blues tunes, from the likes of Muddy Waters and Son House, as well as my own songs like, “Frank Delandry” and “Walk You Off My Mind.”  You can hear samples on my website by clicking on the “Listen” tab.

Which musicians have influenced you?

Brooks: Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole. Although most people speak of me first and foremost as a guitarist, what jazzes me more than anything else is the song. I love roots music, blues, slide guitar – all that – but it doesn’t mean a thing if the song doesn’t go anywhere.

Good guitar playing needs a good song to make sense. Ry Cooder is an expert song archivist who has brought old songs to my attention. Bonnie Raitt has brought not only good songs, but old blues songs as well. Mark Knopfler and James Taylor write great story songs, with amazing hooks and melodies that hang with you. Ray Charles and Nat King Cole know how to deliver a song – how to sing it with soul – like nobody’s business!

What do you think of the current music scene?

Brooks: As much as people are in a bit of a panic about the health of the current music scene regarding radio stations, airplay and CD sales, what I’m finding is that people still crave live music; that coming together with others to hear someone do that thing they do.  Maybe the venues aren’t as big as in years past, but the magic of live music has yet to be replaced by downloads, DVDs and the like. Something pretty amazing happens when a community gathers around a gig. It comes as no surprise to me since that’s been my bread and butter for almost 25 years, but it is interesting to see people in North America, the UK, Europe, and Africa coming to the same conclusions!

I have to agree with you on that. There’s nothing like a live performance- it’s a singular, temporary work of art that is never repeated exactly the same way.

Brooks Williams will be performing at the Zeiterion Theater’s “Z On-Stage Folk Cafe,” on Thursday, April 14th, at 7: 30 P.M. The stage will be set up like an intimate night club, with table, chairs and couches- and you’ll be able to get up-close and personal with Brooks Williams.