Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Samuel “Savoirfaire” Williams was born on September 22, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. At the age of three he began playing violin at his parents’ church and two years later joined a group of child prodigies under the tutelage of Suzuki Violin instructor, Betty Haag. His first performance was at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall during a public television broadcast which became an annual event spanning more than 35 years.

He attended the Merit School of Music in Chicago, studying music theory while participating in youth orchestras including the City Youth Symphony, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Protégé, All-City and All-State. He took private lessons from Afro-Panamanian musician Joseph Williams when he was 16. During this time he played lead for the City Youth String Ensemble’s viola section, then received a scholarship at Interlochen where he sat in with vibraphonist Milt Jackson.

Meeting and performing with Wynton Marsalis while working at the Chicago Symphony Center, Williams continued his studies and busked on the streets to pay for violin lessons. During one of his street performances, guitarist Kenny Burrell observed his skill and invited him to collaborate with himself, Willie Pickens and Larry Gray on a Bebop performance at Chicago’s Jazz Showcase.

In 2000, he was voted into the Chicago Chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), which earned him the moniker “Savoirfaire.” That same year, he began an apprenticeship with luthier Martin Sheridan to learn the art of violin-making, later owning the violin shop and managing it for three years.

After self-releasing three live albums, Bob Koester discovered his work and in 2004 Delmark Records produced the internationally acclaimed release Running Out of Time. Over the years, Savoirfaire has been invited to record with a plethora of artists in various genres and at international Jazz festivals.

In 2015, Williams founded the Chicago Gypsy Project with guitarist Dave Miller and bassist Charlie Kirchen. He continues to perform with his group Savoirfaire Jazz Quartet as well as busking on the streets, and in various venues throughout Chicago.

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