Bio

Native St Louisan, Jerome Williams, known as “JDubz” by his contemporaries, began his musical training at the Community Music school, which later became CASA. There he studied alto saxophone and advanced his clarinet studies through an opportunity instituted by the St Louis Conservatory of Music. He received a full music scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University where he was under tutelage of seasoned jazz educator and multi-instrumentalist, Dr London Branch, later studying music at the University of Missouri – St Louis (UMSL).

Jerome has performed on diverse venues and recorded in various genres of music, from the traditional to the experimental. In 1977, in a ceremonious initiation into the world of avant-garde jazz, he performed as a member of the Glen 'Papa” Wright Ensemble, as part of a series of concerts showcasing former BAG (Black Artist Group) musicians as well as several other concerts with Glen 'Papa” Wright.

Advancing his discipleship as a performing jazz artist Jerome co-founded the contemporary jazz ensemble Millennium, which opened for many jazz greats visiting the St Louis area, including Johnny Griffin, Art Ensemble of Chicago, and others.

Later in 1977-78, Jerome performed in St Louis with visiting native jazz revolutionaries Luther Thomas and Joe Bowie's Human Arts Ensemble. Soon afterwards, he sojourned to New York City where in 1979 he performed in a onetime historical event as a member of world-renowned trumpeter Lester Bowie's Sho' Nuff Orchestra, this performance, with 59 of the most respected living mavericks and now legends of the avant-garde jazz scene, was staged at the Symphony Space, NY, NY. In that same year, he also performed in a trio with fellow St Louis contemporaries, guitarist Kelvyn Bell and percussionist Ronnie Burrage in a legendary live radio broadcast aired from Columbia University's' WKCR 89.9FM, NY.. It has been said that this recorded performance is being still re-aired and was lauded internationally.

In the past decade, as a performing member and co-director of the experimental music arts collective BAG II, Jerome along with other contemporaries reinvigorated and revived St Louis' unique avant-garde music scene. This was a collaboration of creative musicians which was also directed by St Louis’ repatriating Master Double Bassist - Zimbabwe NKenya, and local multi-disciplined performing artist and vocalist, Thomasina Clarke. This effort reconstituted the legacy of the original BAG (Black Artist Group) which formulated in the late 1960's by BAG members, Oliver Lake and several other legendary musicians.

For several years, Jerome also led a jazz duo accompanied by some of St Louis' most premier bassist - Jamal Nichols, Darrell Mixon, and Kim LaCoste.

Upon these foundations he has continued collaborating and advancing the art form:

• Performing musician and arranger of music in the theatrical production, Discipline 27/11: The Story of Jazz Icon Sun Ra, a three-day performance at Forest Park Community College, St Louis.
• Performed on various venues with the Spiritual Revolution Ensemble, a 7-piece collective of experimental jazz musicians, which highlighted some of St Louis' most renowned and developing spoken-word artist.
• Performed in two extraordinary concerts with world-renowned St Louis native, percussionist Ronnie Burrage, as a member of the RoBu Big Band. A rare gathering of some of St Louis' most accomplished jazz artist (Willie Akins, Chad Evans, Jeffery Anderson, Henry Claude, Darrell Mixon, Eric Slaughter, Ptah Williams and several others).
• Performed with St Louis' own legendary percussionist and former Black Artist Group member, Charles “Bobo” Shaw at The Luminary as part of the presentation, “Change is a Sound: Free Jazz and Collective Practice in Political Movements”

Over the past several years, Jerome has been performing and recording with several acclaimed local ensembles and artist, such as the Avant Gardians led my accomplished local percussionist, Maurice Carnes, and the STL Free Jazz Collective assembled by pianist, Jim Hegarty,and the PEPAA House band, (PEPAA is a local arts association); these diverse groups include a cadre of accomplished and dedicated musicians steeped in theoretical approaches and the acoustic language that reflects St Louis’ local legacy of creative and advanced improvisational music.

Jerome is now beginning a whole new path as he grounds himself once more and sojourns towards a more intimate interpretation of what life as a creative artist has exposed.