Brian Soundy's CD of the Year 2011

Drummer Jeff Williams has been around for some four decades playing alongside names like Stan Getz and Lee Konitz and for the past 5 years Jeff has been based both in London and New York. The last two, as I understand, building the quartet

Jeff's Quartet with Duane Eubanks Trumpet, John O'Gallagher Alto Sax and John Hebert Bass, has, I propose, produced some of the veteran drummers best work to date. The original compositions have all the qualities to blend the musicians into a propulsive and rhythmic unit but still allowing space in a masterful way. It's a joy to hear the improvisations of John O'Gallagher and Duane Eubanks over the bass lines of John Hebert expertly held together by Jeff's approach.

The first track 'Search Me', as it should, sets the scene for the rest of the album... The tonal qualities of John O'Gallagher, the improvisation of Duane Eubanks plus Jeff's superb rhythmic qualities are a joy for the ears...An outstanding track for me is 'She Can't Be A Spy' contains all of the qualities previously outlined plus a haunting atmospheric improvisation between O'Gallagher and Eubanks with some very intelligent bass lines from John Hebert..

Jeff William's London Jazz Festival gig this year was, for me, one of the best of the entire festival... Trying to skip around the Festival normally leaves not enough time to catch a full concert but I did with Jeff Williams...

The whole album is intelligent, compositions are masterful, musician ship goes without saying and it swings....Catch them live after buying the CD

Brian Soundy