Denis Williams photos
Denis Williams (1933–2009)
Denis Williams was an English press photographer who retired in 1991 after 32 years with the Welwyn Hatfield Times portraying events in the community in and around Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. He had begun his press photographic career with the Bristol Evening Post however, throughout his professional career Williams was an enthusiastic freelance photographer of jazz musicians. During the 1950s, Bristol was a city on the tour circuit for visiting American bands where Denis recorded visits by Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Eddie Condon and Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines.
Following his move to Welwyn, Williams became the unofficial photographer for the Herts Jazz Club based at The Bell public house in Codicote, and later at other venues in Welwyn. The Club developed around distinguished tenor saxophonist Jimmy Skidmore, and attracted many famous players, including many stars of British modern jazz –Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Peter King, Dick Morrissey, Stan Tracey, Tony Coe, Alan Skidmore, Bill le Sage, Stan Robinson and many more. Williams also captured visiting American jazz musicians such as Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis, Sonny Stitt and Tal Farlow.
Denis Williams was a regular at the annual Bracknell Jazz Festival, a major showcase for British modern jazz in the 1980s, and other jazz festivals. He also attended many London venues including the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
From its outset, Williams was a major photographic contributor to Crescendo magazine until the magazine’s demise in 2009. He regularly provided images for album covers for Spotlite Records when they began to record British jazz artists.
The Denis Williams Collection contains hundreds of prints and negatives of his work. Artists photographed include Ella Fitzgerald, Humphrey Lyttelton and his band, Louis Bellson, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Chris Barber, Stéphane Grappelli, Lonnie Donegan, Dizzy Gillespie and many others.
Heritage Images
As well as viewing them below, many of the images in the National Jazz Archive Photograph Collection are available to buy as framed prints, canvas prints, posters, and many more formats from our partner Heritage Images. These include the images of Denis Williams, Brian O’Connor and Brian Foskett. Start the search for your favourite musician’s image here
