Clinicians

Mike Williams

Lead Clinician | Lead Trumpet, Count Basie Orchestra (Retired)

Mike Williams served as Lead Trumpet in the Count Basie for 31 years, joining the band at the invitation of Frank Foster in 1987, following a stint with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. During his time in the Basie Band, Williams recorded 25 CDs and DVDs, three of which were GRAMMY award winners. He has performed in all 50 states and 55 countries and has been broadcast in numerous TV and radio shows across the world.

Since retiring from the Basie Band in 2019, Williams has continued to teach privately, perform as a guest artist and clinician worldwide, and record as a Lead Trumpet with artists like Charles Tolliver and Steve Wiest.

He is a freelance musician in the Detroit area, and has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at the University of Arkansas at Monticello for several years. Williams is a Warburton trumpet and mouthpiece artist who plays the Mike Williams Signature Artist Trumpet - 3311 MW.