Mike Williams

Emerging from the Leeds College and Guildhall jazz programmes in 1990, Mike enjoyed over a dozen years working on the London scene, highlights including extended stints with the various bands of Simon Purcell, Ricardo Dos Santos, Kjell Berglund and Hans Koller to name a few amongst many in addition to leading his own bands.

Also during this time Mike worked with Gareth Williams, Kate Williams Qt/Qnt the London Jazz Orchestra, Burtil Stranberg , Mark Edwards, Neil Yates Qnt Gareth Locrane, Simon Thorpe Octet, ‘Iota Inti ’Paul Edmonds, Colin Oxley Quintet, Ceri Evans Sextet and recorded with the Dedication Orchestra and Us3 amongst many other positive musical associations.

Even in the early stages of his career Mike was requested to teach across the whole range of educational contexts notably the Glamorgan summer school, residential courses in Sweden, and Finland and stints as visiting artist at the Guildhall alongside more mainstream teaching so when invited to be a part of the Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz program at its inception in 1999, this represented a natural progression.

Since moving to Birmingham in 2003 Mike has enjoyed an increasing level of commitment to this project with responsibilities ranging from the postgraduate level through the undergraduate programme right down to the Junior dept.

He continues to develop his own relationship with the music and the creative process in this environment, leading his own group whenever the opportunity arises. He is currently a member of Richard Iles’ chamber ensemble ‘Microscopic’ and his own quartet includes Phil Robson, Percy Purlsglove and James Maddren.