Release party for new record “Whereabouts"

Although currently a New Yorker, Grammy nominated guitarist Will Bernard's unique voice was formed fro the most part from the rich cultural roots of the San Francisco Bay Area. Along the way he studied classical music, jazz, played in basements and coliseums, and absorbed the Bay Area Multi-Kultii, the New York downtown edge, and the loose funk of New Orleans. He has performed or recorded with Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, John Medeski, Dr Lonnie Smith, Ben Sidran, Peter Apfelbaum, Jai Uttal, Groundation, Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Dr. John and a lot of other known and unknowns. Will can be seen working in a chameleon-like way to fit into his current habitat. His 2007 CD "Party Hats" as well as his 1997 collaborative project T.J. Kirk's If Four Was One were both nominated for Grammys, and he is nominated yearly in Downbeat Magazine's Critics Poll for "Best Rising Star" Guitar Player. Will is a regular fixture at New Orleans Jazz fest, Jam Cruise and other similar events, and has toured extensively in the US and Europe. Currently, Will performs with John Medeski's Mad Skillet, Peter Apfelbaum's Sparkler, Frequinox with Donald Harrison, Stanton Moore and Robert Walter, Club D’Elf, Brian Charette's Mighty Grinders, Club Foot Orchestra, TJ Kirk spinoff Damn Skippy and the Will Bernard ’s Freelance Subversives and Pond Life. Will’s 12th release as a leader: Will Bernard and Freelance Subversives “Whereabouts” will be released in 2026 on Color-Red records.

NEW YORK, NY — Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer Will Bernard announces the release of Whereabouts, November 20 his forthcoming album on Denver-based record label Color Red. The record marks the return of Bernard’s high-energy ensemble The Freelance Subversives, a moniker borrowed from Terry Gilliam’s cult film Brazil. Blending classic soul-jazz, R&B, psychedelia, and funk, Whereabouts is an all-original, danceable collection crafted with a stacked roster of legendary NYC session heavyweights and jam-scene icons.

Founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds, Color Red is renowned for its focus on premier vinyl releases from top-tier funk, soul, and jam artists. Whereabouts serves as the spiritual successor to Bernard’s acclaimed 2020 Ropeadope release, Freelance Subversives, expanding on his signature blend of deep grooves, expressive guitar work, and playful composition.

"The music I am involved with often doesn’t fit neatly into pre-made boxes," says Bernard. "The Freelance Subversives is a vehicle for me to write music oriented towards funky good times and solid grooves. It’s meant to be danced to, put on to enhance a mood, or gotten lost in with headphones."

An All-Star Ensemble of Longtime Compatriots

Across its nine original tracks, Whereabouts highlights Bernard’s knack for writing with specific player personalities in mind. Driven by a bedrock rhythm section featuring drummer Eric Kalb (Sharon Jones, John Scofield), bassists Ben Zwerin (Lizz Wright) and Jeff Hanley, and percussionist Moses Patrou (Amy Helm), the album captures an infectious, live-wire studio energy.

THE BAND:

Henry Hey has an innate curiosity and unique ability to bring multiple musical influences together. This is probably because everything from the Beatles to Bach to Count Basie to the sound of Henry’s own father playing various musical instruments could be heard at any time in his Midwest childhood home. One famously curious artist, David Bowie, identified with this spirit in Henry during the making of The Next Day, on which Henry played piano and keyboards. Bowie then chose him as arranger and musical director to help reimagine his classic songs and to shape new ones, creating the sound for what would be Bowie’s final work, Lazarus.

Upon moving to NYC, Ben Zwerin began touring internationally (“Montreux Jazz Festival”, “Jazz a Juan”, “Jazz a Vienne”, “North Sea Jazz”, “Playboy Jazz Festival”, “Newport Jazz Festival”…) as well as playing in local NYC venues (Carnegie Hall, Roseland, Bowery Ballroom, Bitter End, Joe’s Pub, Mercury Lounge) with talented and diverse artists such as Lizz Wright, Angelique Kidjo, Lila Downs (Sony), Nouvelle Vague (EMI), Claudia Acuna, Lionel Loueke (Blue Note), Kellylee Evans (Universal France), Otis Clay, The Revelations feat. Tre Williams, Oliver Mtukudzi, Ycare (Sony France), Brendan James (Decca/Universal), Souldiggaz (Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige), Frenchie Davis (The Voice, Rent and American Idol), Ellen Greene (of The Little Shop of Horrors), Antonique Smith (of Rent and Notorious), Forro In The Dark (Nublu/Nat Geo), Running Still (East/West/Atlantic). Ben has also played in the Off-Broadway shows Bat Boy and A Broadway Diva Christmas.

Over the course of his thirty year career Eric Kalb has taken to both studio and stage with a dazzling array of influential and innovative artists. He’s laid it down hard for the supernatural force of Miss Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, the seven-string guitar wizardry of Charlie Hunter, quintessential Chicago Soul group The Impressions, fully celebrated jazz guitarist John Scofield and Hammond B3 organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith; to name but a few. Hunter calls Kalb’s drumming “A funky Clyde Stubblefield/ Jabo Starks kinda way of relating (to Jazz) …really cool and refreshing“. Notable film recording sessions include soundtracks for the major motion pictures “American Gangster” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story“.