Freelance Subversives

Release Date: May 1, 2020

Many fans of Will Bernard’s music today have learned about his music through his recording and touring with funk and jamband groups like John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, the Stanton Moore trio, Robert Walter’s 20th congress and TJ Kirk with Charlie Hunter, as well as his own projects.  He has also been involved with a stylistically diverse array of groups including a new project with Bill Laswell called “Revelator”  and his own recordings run the gamut of styles from funk  to straight ahead jazz, to avant garde.

Will’s new recording is titled Freelance Subversives; the title itself is the best description of his method, his mindset, and his storied career. His journey began in Berkeley California, itself a hotbed of both freelancers and subversives. Underground radio was a window into the wild creative world of the early 70’s and Will followed from an underaged distance the musical revolution going on around him. Later after playing in rock bands in high school, the broader world of jazz beckoned as he joined the acclaimed Berkeley high school jazz program that fostered the likes of Joshua Redman, Benny Green, Steven Bernstein, Lenny Pickett and a long list of musicians still emerging today. Playing and recording with Peter Apfelbaum’s large ensemble “The Hieroglyphics ensemble” was a culmination of these Bay Area influences as the group gained notice backing up Don Cherry in his A&M album “Multi Kulti” in 1989.

Freelance Subversives marks Will Bernard's solo Ropeadope debut, at a time when a new generation is discovering the 90's and early 2000's scene of provocateurs and improvisors. It cooks (with gas) just like the old days, but the groove is of today, with Ben Zwerin and Jeff Hanley splitting the bass lines, Eric Kalb on the kit, a trio of Hammond wizards - Eric Finland, Ben Stivers, and John Medeski, and guests Jay Rodriguez and Skerik on Sax.