medjuck Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/being-transsexual-from-birth-jessica-williams?trk=prof-post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 Jim S. has alluded to the matter on this forum several times in the past (though years ago iirc). I got the impression it was fairly widely known, Googled a few times (also years ago) but couldn't find anything significant, so thought no further of it. I enjoy Williams's pianism and own several recordings, and none of the liner notes even hint at the trans-gender issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin V Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 I was worried when I clicked on this thread that it'd be about her encountering further health problems. I'm glad that after all of her back problems that she hopes to resume touring and is in a good place. I'd be interested in her book, and I commend her for speaking out. In a case of not being able to keep up with my purchases sometimes, I have a solo release of hers on Candid that I'll spin for the first time tonight. I should also revisit my other Williams albums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 3 hours ago, T.D. said: Jim S. has alluded to the matter on this forum several times in the past (though years ago iirc). I got the impression it was fairly widely known, Googled a few times (also years ago) but couldn't find anything significant, so thought no further of it. I enjoy Williams's pianism and own several recordings, and none of the liner notes even hint at the trans-gender issue. Me? I recall somebody else mentioning II and me wanting to be sure that It was not just gossip, but otherwise, not a subject relevant to my concerns one way or another. Not really a fan, but never hsve been. Somebody else, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Heard that in the early '80s and pretty much forgot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 1 hour ago, JSngry said: Me? I recall somebody else mentioning II and me wanting to be sure that It was not just gossip, but otherwise, not a subject relevant to my concerns one way or another. Not really a fan, but never hsve been. Somebody else, perhaps? Jim, I could of course be wrong, because it was a long time ago. But the memory is pretty strong, since I was a newbie to this board, owned some Williams recordings, and was really surprised. I'm pretty sure there was more than one post (though on different threads), though maybe the reference was offhand. If it was an arbitrary poster rather than a seasoned and knowledgeable veteran like yourself, I wouldn't have bothered to Google. OTOH, I just searched and couldn't find anything, so maybe I'm out to lunch on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertoart Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Well there you go. how very interesting. She ain't no Tina Brooks, but still pretty as a button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted May 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 IIRC I saw her with the San Francisco Jazz Collective and only took note that she was a really good pianist who was rather attractive. Sorry to hear about all her troubles. Glad I bought some downloads from her site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 2 hours ago, T.D. said: J im, I could of coursinbe wrong,itbecause it was a long time ago. But the memory anythingty strong, since I was a newbie to this board, owned some Williams recordings, and was really surprised. I'm pretty sure there was more than one post (though on different threads), though maybe the reference was offhand. If it was an arbitrary poster rather than a seasoned and knowledgeable veteran like yourself, I wouldn't have bothered to Google. OTOH, I just searched and couldn't find anything, so maybe I'm out to lunch on this. Fsir enough. In all honesty, all I recall getting Involved In at about that was making sure that there was no gossip being spead, because, hell, I had never heard that before, and you know, something like that can be passed around maliscioulsly., like It's a jokeprank. NOT cool. Past that, really, Irrelevant to me. If anything past that happened... I would not be happy with myself about that. An Ambient randomness riff, maybe, but anyting of a "sensational" natoure, god forgive both for doing It and for not remembering. Btw, my phone keyboard is wagging out, the cursor jumping all over the place. So anything that looks like an editing of thequote, purely inadvertant, sorry. This phone shit is weird for trying to really communicate like on a real keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 (edited) I remember hearing about that in the 70s or 80s, but never felt it was any of my business to mention or discuss it publicly. She was a regular performer at Keystone Korner. Edited May 18, 2016 by BFrank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 (edited) I remember being curious having heard this about ten or so years ago on another board and could find no verification. It's unfortunate the current interest in legislating silly things that brings transgender persons into the news. Edited May 18, 2016 by jazzbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Long ago, there was an internet group of SF area gay & lesbian jazz fans (a small group, to be sure). One of the outings we took was to hear Jessica Williams at Yoshi's in 2003. It was the first of 2 nights which were recorded for 2 volumes of music released on the MaxJazz label. I recall one of the women in our group saying that Ms. Williams was a trans woman. This was the first time I'd ever heard that. I was very surprised and pretty much discounted it as a rumor, believing that the community of jazz musicians is rather small and insular and if such a thing were true, news of it would have leaked out long ago. I can't even begin to imagine what she has been through in her life. Certainly in the 1970's and 80's, being known as a trans woman would not have made it any easier for her to get gigs. Just being a woman made it difficult enough in jazz. Working for guys like Stan Getz -- not exactly known as Mr. Sensitivity -- as she did on the recently released CD recorded at Keystone Korner, must have been a tad stressful. I wonder if that gig was pre-op or post-op for her as she says her surgery also took place in 1976. She has long been one of my favorite pianists and I certainly applaud her for speaking out. I hope she is back to full strength and ready to tour and record again soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tapscott Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 (edited) On 5/18/2016 at 1:53 PM, duaneiac said: Long ago, there was an internet group of SF area gay & lesbian jazz fans (a small group, to be sure). One of the outings we took was to hear Jessica Williams at Yoshi's in 2003. It was the first of 2 nights which were recorded for 2 volumes of music released on the MaxJazz label. I recall one of the women in our group saying that Ms. Williams was a trans woman. This was the first time I'd ever heard that. I was very surprised and pretty much discounted it as a rumor, believing that the community of jazz musicians is rather small and insular and if such a thing were true, news of it would have leaked out long ago. I can't even begin to imagine what she has been through in her life. Certainly in the 1970's and 80's, being known as a trans woman would not have made it any easier for her to get gigs. Just being a woman made it difficult enough in jazz. Working for guys like Stan Getz -- not exactly known as Mr. Sensitivity -- as she did on the recently released CD recorded at Keystone Korner, must have been a tad stressful. I wonder if that gig was pre-op or post-op for her as she says her surgery also took place in 1976. She has long been one of my favorite pianists and I certainly applaud her for speaking out. I hope she is back to full strength and ready to tour and record again soon. That was Joanne Brackeen with Getz at Keystone Korner, wasn't it? The Resonance CD, right? Jessica Williams is a fantastic piano player. As a jazz fan that's all I care about really. I have a number of her CD's in my collection, though it's only a fairly small slice of her discography. She has recorded a massive number of CD's. Edited May 20, 2016 by John Tapscott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 2 hours ago, John Tapscott said: That was Joanne Brackeen with Getz at Keystone Korner, wasn't it? The Resonance CD, right? Jessica Williams is a fantastic piano player. As a jazz fan that's all I care about really. I have a number of her CD's in my collection, though it's only a fairly small slice of her discography. She has recorded a massive number of CD's. Du'ohh! You are quite correct. My mistake. I have the CD, but was too lazy to get it and double check the facts before writing. She has recorded a lot of CDs over the years for various labels, but I think most recently she has been recording on her own. She has many discs available for sale on her website. She is also a good, interesting writer and many of her essays & poems can be found on her website as well: http://www.jessicawilliams.com/currents/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six string Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 Yes, I've known this since I met her in the 80s. No big deal in my book. It wasn't my place to out her so until she did I kept it to myself. Good for her for coming out though. I'm sure it feels better to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronG Posted February 11, 2017 Report Share Posted February 11, 2017 Just in case anyone isn't aware, the latest update to Jessica Williams' website has some rather dire news, financially speaking. It's been ongoing, due to health issues, but it seems to have reached a critical point. http://www.jessicawilliams.com/ It seems that despite her optimism about a return to performing, things haven't been happening or just aren't possible. As someone who has been listening to her albums lately and periodically checking her website, I'm going to pull the trigger on this. Just spreading the word... Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKE BBB Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 (edited) Five years ago I had a serious back fusion operation, after 55 years of playing piano. I was financially devastated and lost my piano, too. Please donate to help with rent, food, shelter, and hopefully a piano if you can, or buy a few of my CDs. I get no money for my music from other Internet sites. Thank you all so very much. — Jessica, July 15th, 2017http://www.jessicawilliams.com/ Edited July 15, 2017 by EKE BBB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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