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Smooth Elevator: Moving Target
by Doug Collette
With a band name that bespeaks fluid motion in the general direction of ascent, Smooth Elevator has set a high bar for itself. But the international trio of guitarist Will Bernard, bassist Danilo Gallo and drummer Gioele Pagliaccia wisely recorded Moving Target live in the studio, fresh from live dates, and, in so doing, captured the purity of their instrumental dynamic over the course of a baker's dozen selections. Taking into account such serendipity, it is thus little ...
Continue ReadingWill Bernard & Beth Custer: Sky
by Vincenzo Roggero
Quello tra Will Bernard e Beth Custer è un sodalizio che dura da decenni come ben dimostrano le due foto--una giovanile e una attuale--che occupano la seconda e la quarta di copertina di Sky , la loro ultima fatica discografica. Lui suona la chitarra elettrica e acustica, ha radici musicali nella San Francisco Bay Area, studi di musica classica, jazz, passioni per il funk di New Orleans e per il downtown newyorkese. Lei suona i clarinetti nei ...
Continue ReadingWill Bernard & Beth Custer: Sky
by Mark Corroto
Luckily there are no record producers or record executives for creative music these days, because clarinetist Beth Custer and guitarist Will Bernard would be out of a job or, at least, a recording contract. That is because neither of the artists' interests can be categorized, pigeonholed, or compartmentalized. Custer performs chamber music, jazz, trance, pop, blues, silent film soundtracks, trip-hop, rock, folk, tribal, and ambient music. Likewise, Bernard has his fingers in jazz (from straight ahead to soul and jazz-rock), ...
Continue ReadingWill Bernard Finds His Own Path To Jazz Career
by Jim Trageser
Guitarist Will Bernard doesn't consider himself a “regular" jazz player. He says this occurred to him when he was being asked to play on some recording sessions in New York. “In New York, I've been doing some recording—I did three records for PosiTone, which is more of a jazz label. They're actually based in L.A., but they record mostly in New York. He was calling me in to do jazz sessions, and I think, 'I'm not ...
Continue ReadingWill Bernard: Pond Life
by Mark Corroto
All great performances, be they athletic or musical, start with a solid base. For guitarist Will Bernard that is a trio with drummer Ches Smith (Ceramic Dog, Snakeoil) and completing Bernard's bass (sic) with both the acoustic and electric input of bassist Chris Lightcap. Upon this foundation Bernard is inspired to expand his music with the help of keyboardist John Medeski and saxophonist Tim Berne. Medeski can be heard on the guitarist's 2008 album Blue Plate Special (Palmetto Records) and ...
Continue ReadingWill Bernard: Ancient Grains
by Kyle Simpler
In the culinary world, ancient grains is a term used to describe grains that have been virtually unchanged for centuries but are often used in modern recipes. Will Bernard uses this idea as a metaphor in his album Ancient Grains. The basic concept is that the instruments used in this recording, such as guitars, organ, amplifiers and drums, are vintage in different ways. Some are actually vintage instruments while others are based on designs of vintage instruments. As with the ...
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