Williams
Squared...is an all-instrumental
father/son collaboration by New England resophonic guitarist Roger
Williams and son JD Williams. Roger has been on the bluegrass music
scene since he first appeared with the Lilly Brothers & Don
Stover back in 1963 at age 14. He has since gone on to perform and/or
record with such bluegrass music luminaries as Joe Val, Hazel Dickens,
Bill Grant & Delia Bell, Bill Harrell, Mac Wiseman, Bill Clifton,
Red Rector, Tom Gray, Art Stamper, Wyatt Rice, Stuart Duncan, Mark
Schatz, Jesse Brock, Russell Moore, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland,
Ron Stewart, Chris Jones, and Ned Luberecki, appearing on record
labels Rounder, Flying Fish, Pinecastle, Compass, Signature Sounds,
CMH, Strictly Country, and Turquoise, among others.
JD
Williams has been performing with his father in the ensemble Amy
Gallatin and Stillwaters since his debut in 2005 in the northeast
US and Canada. He has also toured throughout Europe, the UK, and
Ireland, and is currently a student at the Berklee College of Music
in Boston, Massachusetts.
The
album features all-original instrumentals penned by this father
and son team and performed in the bluegrass music style; Roger's
tunes trend toward respectful adherence to traditional music forms,
while JD's are more "out of the box", infused with youthful
vigor and creativity. Each enlisted his musical "posse"
for the compositions; Roger reuniting with banjoist/guitarist Dave
Dick, with whom he toured in the bluegrass group Southern Rail,
guitarist Lincoln Meyers from his days in the New England Bluegrass
Band, and longtime musical collaborator, Canadian fiddler Ray Legere.
JD has tapped into the thriving Boston music scene where he makes
his home to recruit Della Mae members Kimber Ludiker and Courtney
Hartman, along with banjoist and fellow Berklee student Gabe Hirshfeld.
JD also joins his father on Dobro in his twin resophonic guitar
creation Crystal Ice Cave.
See
what Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine said about it:
Bluegrass
Unlimited Magazine