| Big Sam | |
|---|---|
Big Sam Williams, Jeff Albert, Steve Turre, and Kirk Joseph |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Sammie Williams |
| Origin | New Orleans |
| Genres | funk, jazz, rock |
| Instruments | trombone |
| Years active | 2001-present |
| Labels | Hypersoul Records |
| Associated acts | Dirty Dozen Brass Band |
| Website | Big Sam's Funky Nation |
Sammie "Big Sam" Williams is a trombonist and band leader from New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been a member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and currently leads Big Sam's Funky Nation. In youth he studied with educator and saxophonist Kidd Jordan and at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Playing with the Dirty Dozen allowed him to meet and play with other touring bands and musicians such as Karl Denson, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic and James Brown. After one year with the Dirty Dozen Williams began a side project broadening his musical ambitions. In 2006, he played with Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint on their grammy-nominated "the River in Reverse" album and subsequent international tour. Over the years, Big Sam's Funky Nation would become his main band, touring both nationally, internationally, and at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Voodoo Music Experience, South By Southwest, Austin City Limits, and others. Big Sam's Funky Nation is primarily a funk and rock that can also have elements of traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, acid jazz, dance, hard rock and even punk.
Sam Williams has a recurring role in a new HBO Original Series, Treme scheduled to air in April 2010. The series follows residents of New Orleans, including musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians and ordinary New Orleanians as they try to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane Katrina.
Williams learned only in adulthood that he is the great-grandson of Buddy Bolden, the famed New Orleans cornetist.
In September 2006 Williams married long-time associate Shanekah Peterson, a former fellow student at NOCCA and owner of the New Orleans club, The Funky Butt.
In October 2010 Big Sam's Funky Nation will be performing at The Voodoo Experience in New Orleans
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