Willie August Project

Ben Siems, guitar
TBA, bass
Jeremy Hauer, drums

Inspired by the current progressive jazz movement, the small group jazz of the 1960s and 70s, and the jazz-folk-rock fusion sounds associated with the ECM record label, The Willie August Project builds its sound around extraordinarily cohesive ensemble playing, with an emphasis on collective improvisation. Each member of the group is both a fine soloist and an excellent supporting musician and listener. As a result, this trio is able to maintain a remarkable consistency of mood throughout each tune, with each passage flowing seamlessly into the next.

“How does one describe the music…? It is quirky in its blending of folk and jazz, and in doing so it creates an atmosphere that is for the most part quiet, but with a strong lore of substance.” -Jerry D’Souza, All About Jazz

“The Willie August Project plays durable music that expertly straddles the line between easy groove and challenging absorption. …Siems is a fountain of muted melody, with a masterful grasp of the guitaristic art of the octave. His sonic approach gives even his highest, brightest notes the warmth of a candle flame.”
—Cadence magazine

“Hauer uses a drum kit in a painterly, postmodern way, spontaneously composing arresting intros and offering running commentary on Siems’ themes.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

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