Mark Anthony Williams aka "Heshima", Bassist

Contact

PHONE: 415-683-7616
Email: 415jazz@gmail.com
PO Box 9455
Berkeley Calif. 94709

ABOUT

MARK A. WILLIAMS is a native of San Francisco, California and currently resides in Berkeley, California. Mark’s Acoustic Upright String and Electric Bass playing can be best summed up as a representation of the rich musical influences that have been enjoyed in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past 50 years.

Studied under the tutelage of the 1st African-American classical bassist in the Boston Symphony, Dr. Ortiz Walton.

He has toured locally and Internationally with legendary and local jazz artists:

Julian Priester (Trombonist); Eddie Henderson, (Trumpeter-Herbie Hancock); Pharoah Sanders (Saxophonist); Bobby Hutcherson, (Vibraphones); Sonny Simmons (Saxophonist); Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids (Saxophonist); Lavay and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers (Swing Vocalist Big Band).

Performed and recorded albums (discography):

⦁ Taj Mahal, Guitarist, Banjo, Vocalist blues, Jazz, Latin and World (LP tribute to Mose Allison – Your Mind is On Vacation)

⦁ Albert King, Guitarist, Blues (LP The Pinch - The Pinch Paid Off, Part 2)

⦁ Eddie Henderson, Trumpeter - Herbie Hancock

⦁ Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, Vibraphonist (LPs, Little B’s Poem & With a Song in My Heart)

⦁ Julian Priestner & Marine Intrusion, Trombonist (LP Polarization)

⦁ Della Reese, Vocalist/Actress – Touched By An Angel TV episode “God Bless The Child” (Billie Holiday's Bassist)

⦁ Robert Stewart, Saxophonist - Jazz, Blues (LP Nat The Cat- Tribute to Nat King Cole)

⦁ Calvin Keyes, Guitarist, Jazz (CD Hand Made Portrait)

⦁ Muziki Duane Roberson – Pianist with The Jazz Foundation, NYC

⦁ Richard Howell & Sudden Changes, Saxophonist, Jazz (CD Burkina)

⦁ Nissan Motors National Advertising Campaign - Bassist " A Fine-Tuned Instrument” (Essence Magazine)

⦁ Shirley Muramoto, Japanese Koto player and Singer

⦁ Lady Memphis, Jazz blues vocalist

⦁ Lavay Smith and Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Big Band Swing Vocalist

⦁ Faye Carol, Vocalist, Blues and Jazz

⦁ Avotcja, Poet, KPFA Radio Host

⦁ Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids, Saxophonist -Afro-Jazz-fusion (LPs various)

⦁ Russell Baba –Vocalist (LP Hisashi)

⦁ India Cook – Violinist, Jazz, Classical

⦁ Melinda E. Lopez - Vocalist, Songwriter, Co-written and Co-produced (EP Through Butterflies Eyes)

⦁ Terence Brewer – Guitarist, Jazz

⦁ Jeff Chimenti, Pianist- Jazz, Rock and World

⦁ Saya Saito, Pianist, Jazz

Various agencies and non-profit organizations:

⦁ http://www.Jazzfoundation.org, SF Jazz Programs & performances

⦁ https://gijf.org/lsjm, Lafayette, CA Summer Jazz workshops

⦁ http://www.cjc.edu, California Jazz Conservatory, Berkeley, CA, Jazz Vocal Workshops

⦁ https://www.thejazztherapists.org, Robert Schwartz, Saxophonist & Founder Music for the elderly at Senior Homes in Berkeley, Oakland, and Bay Area

⦁ http://www.turnaroundjazz.com, Alexey Berlind booking agency

⦁ https://baymusic.com, Kent Strand booking agency

Venues, Tours and Festivals:

Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California (4 yrs); Ritz-Carton, Half Moon Bay, California (4 yrs); Various hotels and wineries in Napa, Sonoma. Various Tours in Europe - France, Germany, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Serbia, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, London, Holland, Austria; Asia - Japan; Mexico; Caribbean, USA - East Coast, West Coast, Mid-West and Alaska.

Mark A. Williams provides his adaptive bass playing with local and international artists in special events, local and corporate venues, private parties and festivals globally and in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a personable and engaging performing artist who enjoys entertaining and creating music experiences for all ages and audiences.