The late pianist James Williams, who succumbed to cancer at age 53 on July 20, 2004, was one of the seminal pianists of his generation. Present at his memorial was a who's who of jazz, a cross-generational representation second to none, from his students at William Paterson College, to his many peers and colleagues chronologically close to him, to elder statesmen such as Clark Terry, Marian McPartland and Frank Wess.

A periodic visitor to Columbia and, in memoriam, the namesake of our Jazz Series Education Program and Scholarship Fund, Williams is near and dear to our hearts. A beloved figure in modern jazz — whose friends, colleagues and associations transcended generation and style — he remains a presence and his work relevant to the very core of our mission: James was an exceptional performer — and an influential educator.

We are extremely pleased, through a special arrangement with his close friend and co-producer John Tibbetts, to have the opportunity to offer for a $250 or greater pledge to the Jazz Series a limited number of the highly acclaimed self-produced 4-CD sets, James Williams: Jazz Dialogues (Finas Music). Recorded shortly before James' untimely death, this is a difficult-to-find compilation.

Comprised entirely of duos it is not only a comprehensive statement but also a testament to James Williams' depth and scope as a musician. Further, and perhaps more than anything, it underscores just how many close colleagues respected James for within this miraculous masterful and most intimate musical undertaking the pianist is joined on separate occasions by bassists Ron Carter, John Clayton, Ray Drummond, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Rufus Reid and Peter Washington; saxophonists Joe Lovano, Houston Person, Billy Pierce and Steve Wilson; trumpeter Jon Faddis; vocalists Freddy Cole, Etta Jones, Mary Stallings, Miles Griffith and Roger Holland; and guitarists Russell Malone and Dave Stryker.

Jazz Dialogues: Vols. 1-4 is nothing short of a remarkable document — a shining example that anyone who appreciates both the musical and entrepreneurial spirits should own.

"Williams was a prince among men, loved and respected by all who knew and performed with him and this four-volume set of duos with 24 individual players and singers just begins to plumb the depth and breadth of his immense abilities as an accompanist and soloist." — (Russ Musto, Review of Jazz Dialogues: Allaboutjazz.com)