Album Notes

William Ford crosses musical borders in "Steel Pan Alley" merging island rhythms with R&B. Born and raised in Northern NJ not far from Brooklyn,New York's Caribbean enclave, where Ford acquired his first "steel pan" as an extension of his studies in percussion music at William Paterson University. "The pan requires one to not only have the facility of drumming, but also the harmonic knowledge of piano" A play on "tin pan alley" where pop tune smiths of 40 years or so ago spun their creativity in melody and song, "Steel pan alley" is a collection of Original compositions featuring the voice of the steel pan. Included is a Jazz standard penned by Jazz legend Horace Silver, "Peace." Horace Silver, in a recent conversation regarding the tune, was surprised to hear the idea of piano and pan doing his tune..'I like what you did with "Peace" as well as the other tunes too" Currently living and performing in San Francisco, Ca with various jazz sidemen supporting "Steel Pan Alley." Hear Guitarist Steve Erquiaga, Rich Girard, bass, Dave Rokeach, drums and Edgardo Cambon, percussion, all seasoned pro's groove where R&B meets the Island's.