Biography
Singer/Songwriter Jo Williamson uses threads of folk, classical music, and the avant-garde to create vocal driven songs that work well with her simple acoustic arrangements.
Born an army brat, Jo spent her childhood moving all over the United States and Europe living on different military bases with her family. She fell in love with performance at an early age and moved to New York to formally study theater and music. It was here she started playing guitar and writing songs. Upon graduating NYU, Jo threw herself into classical vocal studies and began the long process of songcrafting, all the while experimenting with different forms of artistic expression.
In 2005, Jo Williamson formed a short-lived fusion (jazz, classical, folk) group with trumpet player Charlie Porter called Joellen and the Dogbiters. She has also worked with avant-garde/classical composer Faye Ellen Silverman who wrote a fifteen-minute piece for French horn and voice based on a musical story Jo created with Ann Ellsworth called "Left Right" which was performed at the New School. As an actress Jo has performed in new plays and in a few of Shakespeare's plays. Jo has also worked on sound scape projects with video artist Chris Allen and "the Light Surgeons" and other multi-media artists.
In 2008 Jo Williamson released her well received EP 'Wake on the Hudson' which she wrote while living on a 66 foot boat docked on the Jersey side of the Hudson. She often plays in New York city at such venues as Rockwood Music Hall, the Living Room, Pianos, Banjo Jim's, regionally in Long Island and in Connecticut. She recently debuted "By Associations" a radio show that features live music, guests and portraits of interesting persons up at WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport, CT. She has worked with countless talented New York based musicians including Jim Campilongo, Ann Ellsworth, Charlie Porter, and Brent Arnold. Currently she is working on her second recording.
Her live performances have been described as 'mesmerizing, haunting and moving'.
Radio: WPKN 88.9, FMU NJ 91.1, WPRB Princeton Radio, WUSB 90.1 Stonybrook University, WPSC FM NJ, Harris Radio Brooklyn, Dan Herman's Radio Crystal Blue
Past Musical Performances:
Performances of Original Music in and around NYC-- Hudson River Park Pier 84-Rock and Run Benefit, Rockwood Music hall, The Living Room, Bitterend, New School, Julliard, Manhattan School of Music, American Folk Museum, Cafe Vivaldi, Pianos, Living Room, Sidewalk Cafe, Kenny's Castaway, Bar 4 and Bar Matchless, LIC Bar and others
Performances of Original Music regionally-- in CT: Fairfield Theatre Co, Fairfield, Acoustic Cafe and WPKN Living Room Bridgeport, Roots Coffeehouse Danbury, in Long Island, NY: Huntington Fall Festival, Bayshore Bandshell, Stonybrook Post Office, 3 VIllage in for a Breast Cancer Benefit, WPKN Benefit- Painter's Brookhaven, Borders's Books, in VA-Tea Bazaar, and others
Radio: WPKN 88.9, FMU NJ 91.1, WPRB Princeton Radio, WUSB 90.1 Stonybrook University, WPSC FM NJ, Harris Radio Brooklyn, Dan Herman's Radio Crystal Blue
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Other Artistic Highlights~
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~"BLUE-a Tribute to Joni Mitchell" debuted at the Kravis Center, FL musically directed by Bob Stillman
~ Played Shakespeare's Joan la Pucelle in "Blood Roses" (HVI-1,2,3) at STNJ.
~"True Fictions: New Adventures in Folklore-Light" Surgeons with Chris Allen at RPI Troy New York.
~"Left Behind" debuted and recorded piece composed for horn and voice music set to writings of Edna Saint Vincent Millay.
~"Left Right" musical narrative piece co-created and performed with Horn player Ann Ellsworth
~Jazz fusion band formed with Charlie Porter "Joellen and the Dogbiters"
~Created original soundtracks for short films including 'Cycles' by Ada Whitney featured at the gallery space in PS 122.
Instrumentation
Live:
Jo Williamson with her guitar and often a friend or two
"Wake on the Hudson" features-
Brent Arnold-Guitars, Cello, Viola, Electric Bass and Piano
Mat Fieldes-Acoustic Bass (track 1,2,3)
Jim Campilongo-Guitar (track 2,5)
Rich Levinson-Drums-(track 1,4)
Peter Evans-Trumpet (track 1)
Ann Ellsworth-French horn (track 1)
Matt Bauder-Clarinet (track 1)
Discography
Wake on the Hudson EP 2008
"Left Behind" on Manhattan Stories- Faye Ellen Silverman 2008
Links
| http://www.jowilliamson.com |