Mark Williams

Mark Williams

Mark Williams is a guitarist, composer, and tutor originally from Belfast, now based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He moved to the North East in 1999 to study Jazz, Popular, and Commercial Music, graduating with a BMus (Hons), and has since established himself as a highly regarded performer and educator on the UK jazz scene.

Mark has worked with many of the country’s leading musicians and is best known for the Mark Williams Trio, whose distinctive compositions and modern sound combine groove, melody, improvisation, and the creative use of effects and loops. The trio has released several critically acclaimed albums and was selected for Jazz North’s Northern Line scheme.

Alongside this, Mark has been a long-standing member of vocalist Zoe Gilby’s Quartet, performing regularly across the UK and internationally, including festivals in Morocco and China.

Other projects include: Living In Shadows, The Lewis Watson Quartet, The Harry Keeble Quartet and The Russ Morgan Quartet.

As a teacher, Mark brings the same creativity and musical curiosity to his lessons as he does to the bandstand. He has extensive experience teaching guitar, improvisation, harmony, rhythm, and ensemble skills, and works with students of all ages and abilities. His teaching is tailored to each individual, helping students develop strong technique, a deep understanding of music, and the confidence to express their own musical voice – whether they are beginners, exam candidates, or aspiring professionals.