The energy of Afro-Cuban percussions, the symmetry of jazz, r&b's resonance, funk's bounce… What do you call it? What else but Visions!
The brainchild of Rob Williams, Visions was originally incarnated as The New World Percussion Ensemble and has been playing throughout the Washington area for more than 15 years, opening for such headliners as Roy Ayers, Airto, Trouble Funk, Third World and many others. We've even had the pleasure of performing for NBC's '87 Anniversary Party. In this latest evolution of ourselves, we've highlighted a lot more vocals and we're especially proud to have on board Larry Johnson, formerly with The Presidents of Grammy-nominated "5-10-15-20-25-30 Years of Love" fame. But don't think we've put aside our first passion. Big horn lines offered up by our three-man tag team are a mainstay as well as heavy percussions managed in the very capable hands of Frank Lloyd, a true rhythm master.
Currently we're finishing up our second still-untitled CD for release this summer. Along with original pieces to make you move your feet, make you think, make you sit back and say "wow, that's pretty," we're also including on it our rendition of a few choice gems previously recorded by other artists. The first track, "The Creator", can already be heard on 88.9 WEAA in Baltimore and 89.3 WPFW in Washington along with revisits to our 2001 CD release, Maquaz.
We’re very excited about what lies ahead for Visions. Whether it’s putting a new spin on something old or making an ancient connection with something new, we’re laying it down at every rehearsal, every performance, with every raw emotion channeled into a song. The music just keeps coming. And with the invaluable support we get from our families and an ever-growing circle of friends, we are having a ball! And ain’t that what it’s all about?
Every contact we make is important
to us and we want to thank you for taking the time to read about us.
Please feel free to email or call us if you’d like to find out more.
We would love to hear from you. ‘Til then, take care from Visions,
as in let what you see never undermine yours…
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VISIONS is not your ordinary band. It is a 10+ piece mini-orchestra that blows away the senses. It's not a quartet playing "conventional" music. There are so many great technically proficient musical bands out there that play extremely well in a conventional way that Visions does not choose to tread that ground as well. Some people say "why does our band have so many people". It's like asking the question "why does a beautiful painting has so many colors?" Visions music reflects every facet of emotion through its multifaceted musical approach which includes elements of R&B, funk, Afro-Cuban, Jazz, Worldbeat. Invention is Visions' convention. Visions music is like a movie presented in Cinemascope. Visions music is guaranteed to strike a nerve.
[click on a name for a photo]
Rob Williams
Musical director, Saxophones, Flute,
Keyboards
Tom DeHart
Electric Bass
Frank Lloyd
Congas, Timbales, Bongos, other
Percussion
Tony Poag
Drums
Johnnie Thorton
Keyboards &
Rhythm Guitar
Natalie Bridgewater, Idrissa
Heard, &
Larry Johnson
Lead &
Background Vocals
Han Lim
Lead &
Rhythm Guitar
Kelvin
Montgomery
Trombone
Greg High
Trumpet
