Gilberto Gil – 1992 by Peter Williams

PETE WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY returns to ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL as a permanent exhibition.

“It’s always been about being on the move and living a transient existence. Saying Yes instead of No. Accepting an assignment and sitting on a plane a couple of hours later. If a door opened, I simply walked through without questioning why. That in turn has led to extraordinary meetings with a continuously changing backdrop and a never ending source of inspiration.”

If you are familiar with Straight no Chaser magazine you will be familiar with classic B&W portraits taken by Peter Williams and his now permanent exhibition in the bar in St George’s – the premier live music venue in Bristol – is well worth perusing and it’s definitely worth investing in one of his images. All his prints are beautifully printed and framed and are sourced from the photographer’s archive (1988 to 2005). The exhibition, like his Chaser Years show at the Maverick Gallery in Shoreditch, features a host of legendary musicians from across the musical spectrum Don Cherry, Joyce, Robert Wyatt, Randy Weston, Busi Mhlongo, Roni Size, DJ Shadow, Nitin Sawhney to name but a few.

IDJ Jerry – 1988

Peter Williams’ association with St George’s started in 2008 with a show in the Crypt when he then supplied images for their vibrant ‘Migrations’ season. Skilled at sourcing locations which often provide an architectural or filmic narrative Peter is well known for working in a very direct way, with minimal equipment, a location and then shooting for no more than thirty minutes. He is a master of his craft and his relaxed and enthusiastic character is reflected in the photographic relationship he has with his subjects.

Joyce in Rio by Peter Williams

On a different tip, Peter also documented the first six months of the seminal Monday night club session That’s How It is at Bar Rumba. The club was fronted by Gilles Peterson and Mo Wax’s James Lavelle and despite a radical and seriously eclectic music policy is often credited as the birthplace of ” trip hop”. Peter images will appear in the forthcoming Mo’ Wax book Urban Archaeology and look likely to feature in an exhibition at this year’s Meltdown.

http://www.petewilliamsphotography.net/

(Please note… I’ve always known Peter Williams as Peter… not Pete, so I’ll stick with that, otherwise it feels wierd.)