Biography
Acclaimed international Jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, music educator, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, radio host, business owner (PositiveMusicPM.org), and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performance at music festivals have taken her to Europe (Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Ukraine), Japan, The Caribbean (including Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, et. al), Mexico, and across the USA. Her vocal jazz artist residencies have allowed her to work with and mentor students on college campuses in the United States and abroad.
As a veteran vocal music educator and private vocal coach, Lori's received many honors for her contributions to the arts, including The Atlanta Chapter of the National Hampton Alumni Association’s 2023 Excellence in Arts and Entertainment Award, Outstanding Music Teacher in the October 2000 issue of Teaching Music, the 2007 Superintendent's Arts Teacher of the Year, and the 2010 Vincent E. Reed Teacher of the Year. Lori was nominated for a 2014 Helen Hayes Award as an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical for her role as Ella Fitzgerald. Lori has received letters of recognition for her performances by President Joseph Biden (wherein he wrote that Lori Williams has "the voice of an angel…absolutely amazing"), Speaker of the House John Boehner, and Senator C. Anthony Muse. Immersed in traditional jazz from an early age and earning a B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University, she hosts a weekly radio program on JazzRadioWETF.org - "Collector's Choice With Lori Williams". Her weekly broadcast focuses on women in jazz, the international scene and young performers dedicated to the roots and traditions of the music. Lori is also the producer and host of Sunday Jazz Lounge at St. James Live! Jazz club in Atlanta, Georgia (stjamesliveatl.com).
For over three decades, Lori Williams has had the honor of working with many notable artists as lead / background / studio session / guest vocalist including Oleta Adams, Yolanda Adams, Nikita Agafonov, David Archuleta, Marcos Ariel, Temidayo Balogun, Rob Bargad, Regina Belle, Eric Benet, The Blackbyrds, Michael Bowie, Willie Bradley, Karen Briggs, Norman Brown, Tom Browne, Peabo Bryson, Chuck Brown, Wayne Bruce, Jerry Butler, Jonathan Butler, West Byrd, Paul Carr, Terri Lyne Carrington, TC Carson, Gene Chandler, Renato Chicco, Stanley Clarke, Jeremy “Bean” Clemons, Nick Colionne, Collaboration, Michael Colyar, Adrian Crutchfield, Jon Davis, John Di Martino, Will Downing, Joris Dudli, George Duke, Nathan East, Rodney M. Edge, Troy Sol Edler, Kevon Edmonds (After 7), Jorel "JFLY" Flynn (HBIYD), Derrick Gardner, Laszlo Gardony, James Genus, Jazmin Ghent, Tres Gilbert, David Gilmore, Savion Glover, Aaron Graves, Chelsey Green, Slide Hampton, Winard Harper, Christian Havel, Walter Hawkins, Norbert Heger, Howard Hewett, Weldon Hill, Tony Hightower, Corcoran Holt, William Hubbard, Daryl Hunt, Tim Hutson, Yoron Israel, Jessy J, Al Johnson and The A-Team, Allyn Johnson (Divine Order), Marcus Johnson, Nathan & Noble Jolley, Stanley Jordan, Michael Keul, Kindred the Family Soul, Ben E. King, James King, Anatoliy Kirnichnyy, Antoine Knight, Yishai Knoll, Saltman Knowles Group, Ignat Kravtsov, Rayshun LaMarr, Lavahi, Evgeny Lebedev, Lisa Levine, Dee Lucas, Alex Malheiros (Azymuth), Jimmy Masters, Maysa Leak, Daniel McClain (After 7), Frank McComb, John Paul McGee, Marion Meadows, Najee, Jimmy Masters, Nathan Mitchell, Ed Neumeister, Marat Nikolaev, Milan Nikolic, Julia Nixon, Daniel Nösig, Antonio Parker, Phil Perry, Robert E. Person, Anne Phillips, Benjie Porecki, Lloyd Price, Phylicia Rae, Chuck Redd, Robert Redd, Althea Rene, Anton Revnyuk, Lenny Robinson, Gino Rosaria, Ellie Saitoh and The Love Tambourines, Erwin Schmidt, Sylver Logan Sharp, Avery Sharpe, BillyRay Sheppard, Art Sherrod, Brian Simpson, Jae Sinnett, Oli Silk, Dick Smith, Jesse ‘JT Jazz’ Thompson, John Toomey, Tony Terry, Unit 3 Deep (w/ David Dyson), Tadataka Unno, Gerald Veasley, Chris Walker, Kevin Walker, Kim Waters, Jacob Webb, Anthony Wellington, Matthew Whitaker, Roz White, Bernhard Wiesinger (Poysdorf All-Stars), Vesta Williams, Larry M. Wilson, Angela Winbush, Sherry Winston, Lisa Yves, David Ylvisaker, Frederic Yonnet, et.al.
Lori has six independent CDs and has recorded with numerous artists internationally. She released a single - "Too Late (It's My Time)" - in June 2022. The official music video (directed/co-produced by Elise Perry) was released in July 2022. Too Late (It's My Time) - Official Music Video
Her latest inspirational contemporary Jazz single - “Take My Wings” - released in October 2023. Take My Wings
Listen to and purchase her music on all streaming sites, LoriJazz.net and LoriJazz.com.
