The Jazzkeller Esslingen is celebrating 30 years since the reopening of this historic jazz venue. The Lori Williams 6tet is another highlight of this special festival year.
Lori Williams is an American jazz singer, educator, and radio host, known for her expressive vocals that blend jazz, soul, and gospel. She is also the founder and director of Positive Music for Positive Minds, Inc.
Her latest album, “Here We Are,” released in 2025, was created in collaboration with a musical collective she has worked with for many years.
“A community that I have come to value and love like family! This group has become my home away from home,” says Williams.
The musicians met in Lower Austria. Bernhard Wiesinger has been the director of the “Jazzwerkstatt Poysdorf” association there since 2010, which has transformed the wine-growing town north of Vienna into a recognized jazz hotspot.
In 2012, he invited Lori Williams to teach at the summer workshops. There was an instant connection between her and the musicians – both musically and personally.
Since then, she has returned to the “Poysdorf Jazz & Wine” workshop and concert series almost every year. During numerous sessions, it quickly became clear that the musical chemistry was also perfect.
The desire to work together ultimately led to the album “Here We Are,” released this year. Each band member contributed compositions.
We were fortunate enough to experience many of these pieces live in the jazz cellar.
The superbly rehearsed band with its first-class musicians – some of whom have known each other for decades – and Lori Williams’ wonderful voice made this evening unforgettable.
The Lori Williams Sextet thrilled audiences at the Esslingen Jazz Cellar.
The mid-season review is extremely positive: All six concerts with which the Esslingen Jazz Cellar has celebrated the 30th anniversary of the reopening of its legendary vaulted cellar at Webergasse 22 since the beginning of the year have been enthusiastically received by the audience. “A particular musical highlight was the Uri Caine Trio concert in February,” agree Barbara Antonin and Claudia Leutner of the Jazz Cellar team.
The Lori Williams Sextet has now made a brilliant start to the season. On a European tour, the charismatic singer from New York made a stop in Esslingen between concerts in Turin and Hamburg. She was accompanied by an illustrious instrumental ensemble of international renown.
Lori Williams, vocals
Bernhard Wiesinger, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
Christian Havel, guitar
Renato Chicco, piano
Milan Nikolic, bass
Joris Dudli, drums
