Irv Williams

Raised in Cincinnati and Little Rock, Arkansas, Irv Williams first settled in the Twin Cities in 1942 while playing in the Navy band. Irv started out as a childhood violinist, a diminutive youngster who charmed the crowds with his musical talent and his undeniable “cuteness.”

His father, a doctor, prescribed the clarinet to strengthen Irv's lungs during a bout with bronchitis at age 11. Williams fell in love with the horn and soon moved on to the sax – all he wanted to do was blow the horn. This beloved tenor sax player has worked in bands fronted by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Fletcher Henderson, Mary Lou Williams, Billy Eckstine's orchestra and many other jazz luminaries at venues like the Apollo Theater and the Howard Theater. His warm, soulful tone and mastery of the jazz ballad earned him the moniker “Mister Smooth” (as bestowed by former Pioneer Press jazz writer Bob Protzman).

Irv has performed in just about every jazz club the Twin Cities has hosted since WWII, including The Flame Bar where he split sets with stars like Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie and Johnny Hodges. An educator and mentor to countless Twin Cities musicians, Irv's contributions to the music scene go far beyond his estimable sax skills. He spent decades teaching in the St. Paul public schools, guest lecturing at the University of Minnesota, and performing with the late jazz messenger, Dr. Reginald Buckner. Irv was the first jazz musician to be honored by the State of Minnesota with his own “Irv Williams Day” in 1984, and had his picture on the “Celebrate Minnesota” official state map in 1990. His many awards include induction into the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame and receiving the Arts Midwest Jazz Masters Award in 1995.

Irv will turn 90 this August, has threatened retirement on several occasions – luckily for his fans retirement seems to be the one musical endeavor he just can't master. Since turning 85, Irv has released two wonderful CDs and continues to be a hard working live performer. Describing Irv's latest CD Dedicated To You in the Star Tribune, Tom Surowicz remarked, “It's one thing to be prolific and vital at age 85. It's quite another for an artist to be doing some of his best work.” Irv's CD That's All?, released in October 2004, was named one of the “Top 20 Local Albums” of 2004 by the Star Tribune, alongside rappers, rockers and a star named Prince.

“Notes from Williams' saxophone seem to float on air rather than fill it.” - Pioneer Press.