Williams first came to prominence as part of Yussef Kamaal, a collaboration with Yussef Dayes. Their sole album “Black Focus” is one of those rare gems, managing to evoke your favorite parts of Miles Davis’ meditative “In A Silent Way,” J Dilla’s kaleidoscopic “Donuts,” the flowing drum ‘n’ bass of LTJ Bukem and the soaring string arrangements of Alice Coltrane without really sounding like any of them. It oozes vibe while maintaining a tight, focused core. Not only that, but the instrumental chops are in full force from the first note. The album is full of impressive acrobatics without resorting to empty flash.

After Williams and Dayes parted ways, Williams stepped up with 2018’s “The Return,” his proper solo debut. Leaning into the fusion-laced funk, tracks like “Broken Theme” distinguish themselves with a sneaky, impish energy. Williams revels in the tease, with little flecks of melody that keep drawing you into the perfectly attuned start-stop beat. It’s an album filled with moments, and it’s clear that Williams seized the opportunity to distinguish himself as a composer and bandleader.

Since then, Williams’ releases have continued to build on this foundation, with interesting curves in the road. 2020’s “Wu Hen” stands as the definitive example of Williams’ self-described “Wu Funk” sound (Henry Wu being Williams’ birth name), full of shimmery keys, popping bass and swerving, glistening synths. “It’s the Wu Funk” he said in an interview. “My sound. Something that came out of London, in between house and broken and funk and jazz.” An entry into DJ-Kicks mix series forgoes the typical house/techno axis for an immaculate ride through dusty crates and the future-facing electronic music that draws most heavily from them.

This month, Williams releases his new album “Stings.” The few tracks that are currently available play like a ride across one of London’s fabled pirate radio stations. Frenetic chopped beats give way to richly soulful passages, reminiscent of a classic Spike Lee score. The spiritual currents that have been apparent in his work find a new flowering. The seeds of the album were written during the pandemic, a time of reflection and exploration for many artists. Williams’ solo piano works have evolved from solitary pieces into soaring artistic statements through rich orchestration and intense collaboration. Turning his live set over to his band, Williams’ songs become prompts for flowing, ensemble improvisation, in some ways mirroring the global experience from lockdown and solitude through gradual reopening and then accelerated communal reintegration. Join him on the eve of the album’s release for a one-of-a-kind, intimate concert.