Ben Williams - Coming Of Age (2015)

Ben Williams, winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, releases his 2nd album, Coming of Age, building upon his musical experiences over the last several years. Since then, Ben has played and toured with a long list of jazz musicians: Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride Big Band, Nicholas Payton, Paquito D'Rivera, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Golson, George Duke, Eric Reed, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, and Mulgrew Miller and many others. Coming of Age features covers of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" & Lianne La Havas' "Lost & Found" and includes special guests: Goapele, vocals on Voice of Freedom (for Mandela), Christian Scott (trumpet), Stefon Harris (vibraphonist) & emcee W. Ellington Felton.

Tracklist:

01. Black Villain Music
02. Strength and Beauty
03. Half Steppin'
04. Voice of Freedom (For Mandela) [feat. Goapele]
05. Toy Soldiers
06. Lost & Found (feat. Christian Scott)
07. Forecast
08. The Color of My Dreams (feat. Stefon Harris)
09. Smells Like Teen Spirit
10. Toy Soldiers (feat. W. Ellington Felton) [Reprise]
11. Coming of Age

Personnel:

Ben Williams : bass
Christian Sands : keyboards, piano
John Davis : drums
Marcus Strickland : saxophone
Matt Stevens : guitar