Jazz For All Occasions

Dalt Williams, JFAO leader, bass, composer/arranger

Dalt was born and raised in Vallejo, CA where his music education began (trumpet and tuba). After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a bandsman where he became interested in the acoustic bass. He first studied bass with Jack Weeks (Cal Tjader and Dave Brubeck). While serving in Korea with the U.S. 8th Army Band he performed with drummer Ed Thigpen (Oscar Peterson Trio), guitarist Rod Lewis (Anita O’Day), and pianist Dave Hildinger.

Dalt is a graduate of San Francisco State University where he studied bass with Charles Siani (San Francisco Symphony) and earned a degree in Music Education. While in San Francisco he performed with Vince Guaraldi, Dave Van Kriedt, Eddie Peabody, Calvin Keys, the Rudy Salvini Big Band, the Al Trobbe Trio, and as a sideman with numerous other groups.

During his 35 year teaching career Dalt started the music program at Travis AFB (Vanden High School) and later moved to Benicia High School. At Benicia he developed an award winning program in Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and Vocal Jazz. In 1994 he was voted Benicia’s Teacher of the Year. In 1995 he was awarded the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the CMEA Bay Section. Dalt is a member of the International Jazz Educators Association, American Federation of Musicians, California Music Educators Association, and the Northern California Band Association.

After being discharged from the 6th Army Band at the Presido, San Francisco, CA., in 1954, Van Hughes joined the Rudy Salvini Big Band and recorded with that band. He has toured with the Woody Herman Band, played with the Louie Bellson Band (featuring Tony Bennett), and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band. He has played with bands backing Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Issac Hayes, and many more. He recorded with Duke Ellington at Grace Cathedral. Van now resides in the Bay Area and is now a freelance musician and private trombone teacher.

“Our Art Show was a huge success thanks to the great jazz from JFAO. Even our owner commented how “tight” you guys were. Let’s plan on having you again next year!! ”

Wanda Howsman, Manager Rutherford Ranch Winery

“The band was terrific and added to the festivities of the “Taste of Sonoma” event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco.”

Honore Comfort, Sonoma Co. Vintners Association

“Great jazz! All of our passengers enjoyed the music and said how much they loved the cruise.”

Howard Williams, Vallejo Jazz Cruise

“Thank you, thank you, thank you…JFAO was awesome!! We so appreciate what your group did to make our dance event such a success.”

Joyce Venturini, Mare Island Museum

“Your music was great Dalt….Marcella is now my idol.”

Jeff Trager, Sticky Rice Chinese Bistro and Bar

Yes, wonderful meeting you, and listening to your band’s terrific jazz that July day for our benefit– it added something that was really perfectly suited to the afternoon (and to our tastes, by the way).

Paul and Michael Sorvino

“Wow, we’re still trying to get back to earth after last Sunday’s trip to the upper stratosphere of truly swinging jazz at the  Sardine Can!  Your love of the music was absolutely contagious, as you could tell by the audience’s response.  Moreover, the “teacher” in you really shined through with your obvious delight with how well each of the other band members was performing.  With that kind of enthusiasm, you could have probably even taught me calculus back in my school days–and that’s saying a lot!  We only wish your quartet was playing more often at the Can.”

Tim Lemon

Thank you for visiting the JFAO site. Let’s get started right away with a video….here’s the JFAO Quintet and vocalist Marcella Hooks at Sausalito’s “Jazz By The Bay” event.

Enjoy,
Dalt Williams
Leader,bassist,composer/aranger

Shouts
1:31–mp3–1.39MB
Quintet

Politically Correct
1:30–mp3–1.38MB
Quintet

Blue Bossa
2:06–mp3–1.96MB
Quintet