William Ware III is a vibemaster extraordinaire. He has developed a method of mind control using sonic vibrations and subliminal slight of hand. Vibes and vocals are his weapons of choice.



Vibraphonist Bill Ware III was born in East Orange, New Jersey on January 28th, 1959. After graduating from Columbia High School, he entered Montclair State University where he completed an Arts Degree (1982) majoring in Music Theory and Composition.



During his college years, Bill also studied at the Harlem Jazzmobile Workshop under the direction of Billy Taylor. At the Workshop, Bill had the opportunity to learn from many prominent Jazz musicians such as Barry Harris, Frank Foster and Jimmy Owens, and performed as a feature soloist in the Workshop Big Band. After graduating, Bill was then invited to become an adjunct-faculty member of the Music Department at William Patterson College in New Jersey, where he taught Latin jazz. The Harlem Jazzmobile Workshop also asked him to join their team as a music theory tutor.



In addition to his studies and teaching, Bill continued to play professionally with numerous bands up and down the east coast. Then in 1986 he put together a Latin Jazz band, AM Sleep, with associates from William Patterson and the Workshop. They released their first album "Las Sombras" (Creageous Records) in the same year and toured the northeastern states.



The next year, 1987, Bill hooked up with Roy Nathanson and Curtis Fowles and soon became a charter member of the Jazz Passengers, a popular band in the Manhattan downtown jazz scene. This line-up has continued for nine years, produced six records and has toured extensively through Europe (East & West) and the United States.



As well as his work with the Jazz Passengers, Bill achieved a reputation as a bass and piano player in the Latin scene, recording and touring with artists including Roberto Borell, Bobby Sanabria, and Chico Mendoza. 1990 saw Ware extend his experience and influence again when he joined up with a group of New York musicians and headed to Yokohama, Japan, for a three-month gig. There "Bill Ware and the Club Bird All Stars" was born. On returning to the U.S., Bill produced, wrote and recorded "Long and Skinny" (Knitting Factory Works) with the Club Bird All Stars, receiving rave reviews.



Having moved from New Jersey to Manhattan, Ware began to investigate the emerging acid jazz scene and soon joined the Groove Collective. After several months of gigging and touring, the Groove Collective were signed to Warner Bros/Reprise. Famed record producer Gary Katz who produced the Groove Collective's first CD, recommended Ware to Donald Fagen, who was looking for a percussionist to join his band Steely Dan. From 1993 to 1995, Bill toured and recorded as a percussionist with Steely Dan in the U.S. and Japan.



In 1995, Bill worked on several projects including the Steely Dan live CD "Alive in America," the second Groove Collective CD, U.S. and European tours with the Jazz Passengers, a movie score spot with Lounge Lizzard, John Lurie, and a solo dance/mix project for Eight Ball records featuring Blonde's Debborah Harry.