John Williams, veteran musician.
A SET of plaques and trophies that line the walls at Almond Studies in Vineyard Town whisper his accomplishments as Jon Williams enters the studio. Jon Williams has been involved in creating music for his own satisfaction, theatre, and a myriad of other endeavours for two decades.
"All of them (the plaques and trophies) speak to certain areas of my life," he says when asked about them, though he declares that none are particularly special to him.
Though they might not be aware of it, the average Jamaican has been exposed to Jon William's musical exploits, whether through his work as a musical director in theatre, gospel music producer and arranger, or his creation of jingles and station identification music.
VETRAN IN THE BUSINESS
As the owner and operator of Almond Productions, he has produced and arranged music for Robert and Genieve Bailey, Birthright, and Harmony Gospel Group.
He has been the musical director for almost 20 Jamaica Musical Theatre (JMTC) productions including Phantom of the Opera, Rockin Romeo and The Lion King. He has also worked on several Jambiz International Productions including last year's phenominally successful Cindy Relisha and the DJ Prince and this year's Christopher Cum-Buck-Us.
HIS WORKS
Several of the musicals Williams has worked as musical director, composer or arranger on, have earned awards. The Father Holung and Friends Praise Him earned the Jamaica Music Industry Awards for Best Musical Review. Williams has copped several Actor Boy Awards for Children Children, Breadfruit Kingdom, and Jesus 2000.
He notes that working on Jesus 2000 was his best experience in creating music for theatre "That afforded me the opportunity to work with an orchestra," he says.
Even so, he differentiates his exploits in theatre from the music which comes from his heart. A Time To Build, his recently launched gospel album, is one of those. "This CD has been on my heart for two years."
The album gets its name from the intentions behind the album, rather than any particular song, and Williams explains that each song is intended to be a part of the building process. "The name embodies what I'm trying to say through song," Williams says.
"When people hear the songs I don't want their initial reaction to be, 'bwoi what a wicked beat' I want to approach it more from a thought level," he says. "I want people to ask 'wha dat?' I want people to think."
One of the songs almost sure to inspire some thought is Ten Times featuring VC on lead vocals. The song's chorus declares that the "system of Babylon" must be toppled. "The original intent was really to talk about the invisible system," Williams explains, "but I like the double play that could occur." The double play comes about because V.C's twist to the vocals brings hints of the other meaning of 'Babylon'.
The works from his heart have been as celebrated as his theatrical exploits. Of Williams' six JAMI awards, four came from his time with the band The Mutual Jazz Players. In 1990 and 1994 the Jamaica Federation of Musicians also awarded him for his work as a jazz musician.
PERSONAL TREASURES
Despite all the accolades forming an enviable carpet at his feet, Williams shrugs almost dismissively at them. He notes that physical accomplishments have the tendency to "swell up your head".
So if not winning accolades, what experiences does he treasure then. Apparently, he is one of those who subscribe to the 'best things in life are free theory."
"What really gets me is stuff that have been inside of me that I've accomplished." One of his most treasured memories and accomplishment is his marriage. "That was a beautiful, still is beautiful, experience," he says.
