Lori Williams performs tonight at The Howard Theatre. The worlds of artistry and arts education often go hand in hand, as there are often too few opportunities for a musician, writer or novelist to thrive based on craft alone. Within the jazz community, there are numerous examples of musicians who teach to add some stability to an otherwise unpredictable career. Less common, however, is the individual who thrives at both, excelling as an artist while also embracing the role of teacher and mentor.
Lori Williams is one such example. She has been singing for over 40 years and has performed with greats like Stanley Clarke and George Duke. In addition to leading her own band, Lori Williams & Friends, she has been a featured vocalist with The Saltman Knowles Group, The Blackbyrds, Allyn Johnson and Divine Order, plus others. As an educator, she is the director of Vocal Music at Wilson High School and has directed numerous choirs both here and abroad, including the National Diamond Girls Jazz Choir at George W. Bush’s presidential inauguration. Williams’ work as a teacher earned her the 2007 Superintendent’s Arts Teacher of the Year Award.
Most recently, Williams has stretched out even further into theater work. She has a number of theatrical credits, most notably in the role of Ella Fitzgerald in Ladies Swing the Blues: A Jazz Fable, for which Williams was nominated for the 2014 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical.
Williams and her band are performing tonight at The Howard Theatre. DCist interviewed this highly regarded local artist in advance of the show.
In addition to being a seasoned performer, you’re a respected educator. How does one feed the other?
I am grateful that I’m able to share what I do with my students. In my instruction, my choir members are able to experience first-hand everything it takes to put on a successful show. Then they replicate and perfect what was taught to them. It’s always my aim for my students to surpass what I have shown them. In their effort to strive for performance excellence, they feed me.
You were recently nominated for a Helen Hayes award. Has theater always been part of your expression? How does the stage work fit into your musical ambitions?
I’m a late bloomer to the stage. I owe my introduction to musical theater to [music director/jazz pianist] William Knowles and [writer/director] Thomas W. Jones. Carolyn Griffin of MetroStage has welcomed me into the theater family. I’ve performed several musicals there. I’ve learned so much about myself on the theater stage and try to incorporate some of the elements — acting, projection, movement, etc. — in my shows. It’s important to connect with the audience and let them be a part of the musical experience. I’m still learning, but acting — being a particular character — fits the framework of expressing lyrics to any song.
Who are some of the local musicians with whom you most enjoy playing?
You are trying to get me into trouble naming names and possibly omitting some of the greats! I love working with so many musicians in the area.
Who will be playing with you at the Howard? Why did you choose them?
I am scheduled to have Benjie Porecki (piano), Mark Prince (drums), Tracey Cutler (saxophone), Mark Russell (bass) and Kenneth Dickerson (percussion). These guys are like my family, my brothers. I wanted to have a comfortable atmosphere where I could be free to express the music. These musicians understand me. And they all have been with me along my musical journey in Washington, D.C.
You have two albums out, are there any plans to record in the near future?
I’m currently working on my third project. My working title is Behind the Smiles. I hope to do three covers and the rest will be original music. I am always hoping for a major label or exec like Bruce Lundvall to take notice. Dreams do come true. Look at Roberta Flack, former educator.
Because you’re involved with so many aspects of the local arts community, what are your thoughts on the scene in general? What are some of its strengths and what challenges does it face?
Wow, interesting question. I believe the arts community is thriving. It just depends on where you go, who you’re listening to and what you see. If you were focusing solely on jazz, that’s another topic. Education is still needed to share its beautiful, rich history and explore current artists who are making their mark in the genre. But the musicians are giants in the field. We have so much talent in the Washington, D.C. area. I love how the younger musicians are making the arts their own. They express in a manner that reflects their generation and emotion. I believe it’s important to reinvent yourself to stay alive in this field. I find myself seeking the opinions of my students and dialoguing about perceptive listening and effective, positive critiquing. If they hear it, see it, experience it, they’ll appreciate it. It’s our job as music educators to present the arts in a way that is non-threatening and forceful. In turn, we must be open to what they’re feeding their minds and spirits with in hopes of redirecting, if necessary, and empowering and uplifting, always.
My quote that I always tell them is “Words are powerful. Speak wisely.” The music we listen to still has the power to impact, change lives, strengthen us.
Lori Williams & Friends perform at 8 p.m. tonight at The Howard Theatre. Tickets $20 plus food and drink minimum.
