Montclair Jazz Expert: 12 Must-Hear Songs For Black History Month

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A renowned jazz musician with deep Montclair roots has created a must-listen music playlist in honor of Black History Month.

Bruce Williams, a longtime teaching artist at Jazz House Kids, put together a 12-song Spotify playlist that features tracks from iconic jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Nina Simone.

“Jazz has its roots in the African-American experience, and in honor of Black History Month, we asked our long-time Jazz House teaching artist and saxophonist Bruce Williams to curate a special Spotify playlist,” the nonprofit stated.

Williams, a saxophonist who earned the nickname “Big Solid,” has earned his own critical attention with his albums, “Brotherhood” and “Altoicity,” issued on Savant Records. He's also made an indelible impression as a sideman on more than 20 other CD and video recordings, performing, touring and recording with a roster of jazz legends: Little Jimmy Scott, Frank Foster, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Stanley Cowell, Louis Smith, Cecil Brooks III, The Count Basie Orchestra, The World Saxophone Quartet, Russell Gunn, Curtis Fuller and Roy Hargrove, among others.

Williams’ full playlist can be seen below.

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