Following up on his debut recording, Will Sellenraad & Root Down bring it back home with a funky, modern take on the great organ trios of the 1960s, a la Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lonnie Smith, and others. Incorporating elements of soul jazz through to the Meters, Soulive and beyond, Star Hustler (see review) is music for your heart and head to keep your ass shakin' all night long. Recorded live to half-inch analog tape and digitally mastered.
About the band
Brian Charette's influences are too vast to list, bringing years of experience sharing the stage with the likes of Lou Donaldson, Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan, and Cindy Lauper. His unique open approach makes anything possible at any moment.
Darren Beckett brings versatility to a whole new level moving fluidly between the worlds of Jazz, Rock, Funk and Soul,. From his Rock band Ambulance (TVT records) to playing with the likes Lee Konitz and Kenny Wheeler, Darren makes sure the band is always cookin'.
Additional information
Produced by: Will Sellenraad, Sean Dixon and Charles Martinez
Recorded at: Dangerous Music; NYC
Engineered by: Charles Martinez
Mastered at Turtle Tone Studios; NYC
About Will Sellenraad
Born in the early seventies, Will Sellenraad grew up the son of artists in Downtown Manhattan. Inclined towards music at an early age, Will immersed himself in the many facets of artistic philosophies prevalent in the New York scene, dedicating all his energies and talent toward the guitar by the age of fifteen. Willem attended Goddard College in Vermont, and the New School Jazz Program in New York City, where he graduated from in 1995. Over the years, Will has had the opportunity to study with many Jazz greats such as Reggie Workman, Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, Gary Dial, and Kenny Werner.
Since finishing his schooling, Willem has been at the forefront of emerging guitarists, working steadily to invigorate the New York Jazz Scene by combining the teachings of his influential mentors with his own unique approach to America's great art form. In making his mark, Will has had the opportunity to play with influential musicians such as Brian Blade, Victor Lewis, Nasheet Waits, Adam Nussbaum, Tommy Campbell, Steve Wilson, Abraham Burton, Arnie Lawrence, Ed Howard, Dwayne Burno, and Gary Dial.
As a band leader, Willem Sellenraad has performed at the Panasonic Village Jazz Festival in New York, the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington Vermont, and is a mainstay on the scene in and around New York City, playing storied Jazz rooms such as Birdland, Iridium, and Sweet Basil, most notably opening on New Years Eve for the Kenny Garrett Quartet in 1998 and Art Farmer Quintet in 1999. Before closing in 1998, Willem held the house gig at Visiones for 3 years, drawing in crowds an average of four nights a week.
Will's first recording features Kiyoshi Kitagawa and Eric McPherson, as well as a special appearance by Blue Note recording artist James Hurt. In the traditions of Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, and Wes Montgomery with elements of the modern greats such as Jim Hall, John Abercrombie and Pat Metheny, this melodic, conversational project thrives on classic group interaction.
Star Hustler, Will's most recent recording with his band Root Down, is firmly rooted in the language of the great organ trios, creating compositions that Victor Lewis calls “fresh. and chances are taken with spontaneity." With this release, the twenty eight year old has marked another very solid step in the development of a long-term career.
Critical Acclaim
“This debut recording by guitarist Will Sellenraad is full of great playing, a great selection of tunes, a great rhythm section." -Kenny Barron
“This group takes the well tested Jazz combo template and molds it to their own devices while still retaining sincere affection for what's come before." -Cadence Magazine
“...sophisticated harmonic thinking and a modern approach." - Jazz Improv Magazine
“Very enjoyable to listen to... Sellenraad has a great ear for beauty and has a real winner with his debut" -ModernJazz.com
Management & Contact Info
Joanne Klein: 212.741.3949 (tel/fax)
130 W. 28th St.
New York NY 10001
Email: [email protected] Website: www.willsellenraad.com
For more information contact All About Jazz.
