Al Williams III

Multi reed player Al Williams III spent his formative years growing up in the musically fertile city of Philadelphia. Crossing over many musical settings, Al's intensly passionate sound can be heard both as a solosist and backing artist. He is always a messenger of dynamic color, tone and soundscape.

As a multi reed artist, Al Williams began his first world tour at the age of 22, recording and performing with world renown percussionist Mongo Santamaria. Al's sound was also a feature on "Dawn" a Grammy Award winner for Best Latin Album. Known for his graceful and melodic styles on tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, JAZZTIMES has described his saxophone solos as "poetic beauty."

One of Washington DC's most most highly respected and busy musicians, Al divides his time between his contemporary group and his jazz trio and session work. Al is featured on the Nils Lofgren soundtrack for the movie "Every Breath," and numerous TV soundtrack themes. In the period of jazz branching into the fusion sound, Al was a member of master bassist Stanley Clark's groundbreaking School Days Band which included Billy Cobbham, George Duke, Steve Gadd, and David Sancious among others. In other settings, Al has shared performance roles with guitarist Jeff Beck, and drummer Simon Phillips.

A graduate of the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Al won WAMMIES in 1997 and 1993 as best contemporary Jazz instrumentalist. Al Williams made extensive contributions to the fundraising CD, "See With Your Heart" recorded with Sustained Note, for SEH+S. He can also be heard on "Never Too Late" and "See for Yourself" recorded with First Step Records.

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