Al Williams III - Never Too Late (1996/2020)

San Diego, Jul 31, 2020 (Issuewire.com) - Pacific Coast Jazz in association with First Step Records announces the re-release of two award-winning albums by Al Williams III - Never Too Late and See For Yourself.

With a depth of tone and lyrical grace that comes from years of playing with greats like Stanley Clarke and Mongo Santamaria, Al has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. JazzTimes noted the "poetic beauty" of his solos.

A native of Philadelphia, Al Williams III toured and recorded five albums with Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria. He appears on Mongo's Grammy® Award-winning album Amanacer. Al then joined high school and college buddies as an original member of Stanley Clarke's School Days Band. They recorded three groundbreaking albums -- Modern Man, I Want to Play for You and Stanley Clarke Live, '76, '77.

Each of Al's three CDs, Never Too Late, See for Yourself and Heart Song, won the Washington Area Music Award for Best Jazz Recording of the Year.

"A few months ago I came across the older Al Williams III tracks," says Donna Nichols, president of Pacific Coast Jazz. "I realized how relevant they still are today. Smooth Jazz has been around for a long time and this is some of the best work that I've heard. Al's sound provides a welcome listening oasis in the midst of these Covid-19 times. We are proud to have this music join our Pacific Coast Jazz repertoire. Al's 2008 recording with us -- Heart Song -- continues to be one of our best-selling albums."