Toby Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator with focus on drums and percussion. Born in Chicago, IL, Toby began music studies with his father, drummer Phillard Williams Sr., and also with his uncle, bassist Al McKibbon. He also studies with trombonist/bassist Louis Satterfield, Nancy Harvey, James Richards, Dr. Lena McLin, Ken Chaney with continued study at The American Conservatory of Music (Chicago) under James Dutton (percussion), M. Dean Kincaid (harmony), Willie Pickens (Class Jazz).
William’s musical gifts have allowed him to play with a wide variety of musicians that are among the best of the best; Pulitzur Prize winning saxophonist/composer Henry Threadgill, Hubert Sumlin, Wayne Shorter, SunRa, Ari Brown, Keb Mo, Della Reese, Charles Tolliver, Curtis Mayfield, Art Porter Jr., Teodross Avery, Doug Carn, Sugar Blue, and Mighty Joe Young.
As a drummer/percussionist Toby has performed in many venues in the United States and abroad including The Civic Opera House (Chicago), Town Hall (Manhattan), The Apollo Theater (Harlem), The Minetta Lane Theater ( New York), Ronnie Scott’s (London), Yoshi’s(Oakland), Dingwall’s (London), New Morning (Paris), The Paridiso (Amsterdam), New Orleans Jazz Fest, Capital Jazz Festival(DC), Chicago Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Bergen Jazz Festival (Norway), Vossa Jazz Festival (Norway), Umbria Jazz Festival (Italy), The North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), and the Kings Jazz Festival (Thailand).
