Will Calhoun News

March, 1996
The Outback, Australia

"Sleeping Fire"

Check out the Foreign Press page.

Check out the Tour Schedule page for concert dates.

Check out the MySpace Page for "MySpace" stuff.

Will Calhoun — Native Lands CD/DVD will be in record stores
nationally (available on the Half Note Label) on June 28.

Click here to order.

A BRIEF TESTIMONIAL TO BUDDY MILES.....By Will Calhoun

Yes, Buddy Miles was a huge influence on my drumming. His groove was heavy and funky. He wrote fantastic classic songs, his voice was directly connected to New Orleans Blues, Church-Gospel, 70's funk/soul. Buddy supported Living Colour -- every show we performed in Chicago, Buddy would appear backstage. He was very proud of Living Colour, and we (Living Colour) are still huge fans of the "Band of Gypsys". There are many examples of great Buddy Miles tracks... I recommend the Buddy Miles Express recordings, however my favorite recording of his is Jimi Hendrix - BAND OF GYPSYS concert live New Years Day 1970 at the Fillmore East in NYC. This entire recording is a Rock and Roll/Blues Classic.

I attended a benefit/auction for Jimi Hendrix in 1992... I actually won a bid on one of Jimi's never used Fender Strat guitars. Buddy attended as well as Jimi Hendrix's Father Al Hendrix. In 1995 I was approached by a Major record label to produce a Buddy Miles recording. The label was uncertain about our collaboration, so we had to record a demo. I wrote a tune called FATHER. I played drums, TM Stevens-Bass, and Buddy on Guitar and Vocals. The track is Fantastic. Many people are not aware that Buddy plays guitar just like Jimi -- it's frightening. The track was never released due to disagreements with Buddy's legal team and the record company. I own the Masters, so I plan to release this track.

In the past 5 years Living Colour was invited to perform on proper Jimi Hendrix tribute tours in America, featuring Billy Cox, Buddy Miles, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Guy and others. These tours were amazing. Watching these guys play and listening to the stories about Jimi, Woodstock, etc. were priceless.

We are living in fast times, with many distractions. Our memories become short... however we have lost a Giant. A great human being... and Genius Musician. We should never forget!

Thursday, March 20 (late night Wed, March 19), 2008

Will Calhoun is the Special Guest on "Audio Gumbo" hosted by Charles Blass, on WKCR-FM NYC, 89.9FM and www.WKCR.org.

1-5am early Thursday, March 20th (late night Wednesday, March 19th.)

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Will Calhoun will appear on WBAI 99.5FM New York radio morning show from 8:30 - 9am discussing his upcoming performances at CACHACA this weekend, as well as few other new topics. You can also listen to the interview via internet by visiting www.WBAI.org.

Jazz Jam Fund Raiser for Pan Africanist Elombe and Nomsa Brath - Press Release

January, 2008

Ethel Calhoun is leading a great dance/fitness class in Brooklyn that is worth checking out!

DANCE VIBRATIONS is a high-energy movement experience that will invite participants to dance to rhythms from Africa, Brazil, Cuba and the Caribbean. Experience the beauty, energy, and power that dance can provide in a one hour class facilitated by professional dance instructor, performing artist, certified Personal Trainer, Ethel Calhoun. Release your mind and body and free your spirit. In this class various dance moves will be taught as well as fitness and strengthening exercises that will assist to create a strong body and improve overall fitness level. Learn dances that will invite your spirit to take flight. Experience an environment that is supportive to all dance and exercise levels.

Get fit in 2008 at The Village @ Gureje

An exciting dance/fitness class is in full swing. Join the fun: wear something loose, bring a towel, water, footwear and bring your spirit ready for release. Don't delay: Have a registration form emailed to you by contacting us at info@Gureje.com. Whew, it is a blast!!!

Class Schedule: 1 hour classes are held in 4 sessions and on Wednesday at 7:00pm and Saturday 10:30am.

Dates:
1st Session - Jan. 9, 12, 16 and 19, 2008

2nd Session - Jan. 23, 26, 31 and Feb. 2, 2008

3rd Session - Feb. 13, 16, 20 and 23, 2008

Fees: $45/session

Drop in: $15.00

Venue: The Village @ Gureje

884-886 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238

(Between Underhill & Washington Aves.)

Tel: 718 857 2522 / 718 857 2105

Monday, June 4, 2007

Will Calhoun is the Special Guest of host Jason "Malletman" Taylor for a taping of Mallet’s Place TV on Monday, June 4th at 8:00PM at Time Warner/CTV Studios in Staten Island, NY. Mallet’s Place TV is a cultural and educational show that airs on Channels 34 & 35 – Staten Island, NY, and is dedicated to the mission of “Keeping real music alive.” For more information, call 973.686.0231.

April, 2007

Will Calhoun recording with Oumou Sangare April 22-26th in Bamako, Mali.

November 17, 2006

Will Calhoun live interview: Friday Nov. 17th @ 4pm. WBAI 99.5 FM on the Earl Caldwell Show... Don't miss it!!! Check it out on live @ WBAI.org

July 21, 2006

Will Calhoun will be appearing and performing variously between 10pm to midnight during Andrea Clarke's "Sister From Another Planet" show on WBAI 99.5 FM (NYC), in support of the station's fundraising drive. Tune and and please support this fantastic radio station.

June 23, 2006

Will performs at "The Power of Drum! A Max Roach Celebration!" on Friday, June 23, 2006 in NYC.

May 31, 2006

I would like to personally thank all friends, fans, and loved ones who have tried contacting me during my clinic tour in Indonesia. I'm fine and will return the States in a few days. I wasn't near the Central Java area during the Earthquake. I performed a few hours away the following day, and due to the damage we had to change Hotel and venue address. My International mobile phone was on limited service until today. The Earthquake is devastating for Indonesians, the body count has risen to 5,200 persons.

Being present in Indonesia today I strongly recommend (if possible) that you or anyone you know make a contribution to the Indonesian community of Central Java. Contact local or International assistance programs, check cable news networks to arrange for proper contact/donation information.

Thanks again to all.

Blessings,

Will Calhoun

May 4, 2006

Will performs at the 5th annual Jazz Foundation of America's “A Great Night in Harlem” concert at the Apollo Theater. Bill Cosby, Danny Glover, Jimmy McGriff and over 60 Musicians highlight the night, which benefits Katrina victims, among many other worthy causes.

Click here for more information.

April 28, 2006

Click here for a feature article about Will in one of South Africa's most widely circulated newspapers.

March 23, 2006

Click here for an Associated Press interview with Will, entitled
"Is Jazz Cool?".

Feb 23, 2006

Press Release - Will Calhoun to receive Visionary Leader Award

October 14, 2005

Click here to read a review of 'Native Lands' by All About Jazz.

Native Lands in the heavens!

'Native Lands' will be featured on Lufthansa Airlines in-flight audio programming in January and February 2006.

August 3, 2005

Click here to read a review of 'Native Lands' by Cincinnati CityBeat.

July 8, 2005

Click here to read a review of 'Native Lands' by The Buffalo News.

July 7, 2005

Click here to read a review of 'Native Lands' from Amazon.com.

Will Calhoun — Native Lands CD/DVD available in record stores nationally (available on the Half Note Label) on June 28, 2005.

Click here to order.

Check out Will's featured interview on www.DrumRadio.com.
Will's interview begins at about the 38 minute mark on the "Part 1" link.

As of Oct. 21st 2004, Will Calhoun has terminated his relationship with Sonor Drums.

More upcoming Mos Def / Black Jack Johnson performances:

ACLU benefit on Oct. 4th, 2004.
Tonight Show (Jay Leno) on Oct. 11th, 2004.
Jimmy Kimmel Show on Oct. 12th, 2004.

Will scored a documentive short called FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS which recently won first place prize at the Lake Arrowhead Film festival. Click here to visit the film's Web site for more info.

Make sure to catch Mos Def / Black Jack Johnson on David Letterman show on Sept. 23rd, 2004.

The new single will drop on Sept. 28th, and the new Mos Def CD (which will feature several BJJ tunes) will drop Oct. 18th.

Listen for Will Calhoun on WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM, Wednesday, June 23rd 2004, at 2pm with Hank Jones to discuss the Elvin Jones tribute live. Will may treat the listeners to a sneak preview of a cut from his forthcoming Jazz CD. Tune in and check it out!

WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM, serving the NYC metro area, and Internet listeners worldwide, with the best in jazz, blues and award-winning news.

Click here to listen on-line.

*You will need the Real Audio Player to enjoy WBGO Jazz Radio.

Will Calhoun Drum Clinic: World Beats & Sounds on Saturday, June 5th, 2004 at the Blue Note in New York City. Click here for more details.

Review of Will Calhoun's exhibition entitled "Moroccan Exteriors", Feb. 6 -8, 2004 in NYC...

Note: Due to the fantastic response to Will Calhoun's photo Exhibition "Moroccan Exteriors" the show will run for the rest of this month (Feb 2004)... Gallery hours are posted. Will Calhoun will close his exhibition on Sunday Feb. 29th with another live solo performance of Ambient World beats and mystical sounds. Performance times between 5-8pm.

Dear Friend:

Moroccan Exteriors was on the money. They had couscous with Senegalese sauce. He really had adventure in Morocco that reminded me of Egypt. Only I would never consider doing Morocco by myself unless I was doing the Folk Festival. His pictures were exciting but not enough of them. He is a humble master musician himself, although the program was about Gnawa music. Gnawas are mystics who go into trance, then chant, dance and play music. Something like Sun Ra.

An Indian friend of his was there and on the spot did an Indian type Acapella. At least it sounded like an improvisational acapella to me. I had thought the Indian was Moroccan. Calhoun's instruments were totally electronic/ electrical. The drums did not look like drums and he had a cord attached to his flute. He also played a doulble flute. He was a pleasure to watch. He also had a metallic instument shaped like a spaceship but sounded like West Indian Stell drums. He played them on top of the drums. He resonated the Indian's voice and some sounds.

Randy Weston also worked with Gnawa's in the '70's. I met him in Paris. Weston was in a World Music Concert with them. He had them flown out from Morocco. My troupe member either married one or one who played with them. They dance like soul dances when you have the spirit. I took Moroccan dancing but do not know it in context. I don't know how Moroccans or Gnawas respect trance dancing by non Gnawas. In the US it is fine. But I've never seen it in a Moroccan restaurant. Calhoun's tales of Morocco were exciting, adventurous and funny - camels and all. He had us in another place and time for a minute. He has become part of their family. Check out his website www.willcalhoun.com. It was a pleasurable learning experience. Calhoun definitely needs to be promoted on a larger scale.

Cassandra M. Wimbs

Living Colour taping "Last Call with Carson Daly" -- Tuesday, January 27th, 2004. LC will be featured as the house band. Air date is Feb. 6, 2004 on NBC. Check local listings for air time.

Living Colour slated to tour in Brazil from April 28 - May 2, 2004. More details coming soon.

Check out the Tour Schedule page for info regarding Will's photo exhibition - "Moroccan Exteriors", Feb. 6 -8, 2004 in NYC.

Click here for a recent interview of Will by "Rock Ahead" Interviews.

CollideØscope reviews, articles...

Click here for Rolling Stone's 4 Star Review of "CollideØscope".

Click here for new press release from Sanctuary Records. Will and the lads provide some insight as to what they've been up to in the years since LC's break-up, and let us in on the inspiration for their reunion and highly anticipated new release CollidØscope.

Click here for a review from Kerrang, the world's biggest selling weekly rock magazine!

Click here for a Rolling Stone article about the new Living Colour Album "CollideØscope".

Click here for a Living Colour fan interview with audio answers from Corey Glover, from the Noise Records Web site.

New Living Colour Album entitled "CollideØscope" will be released in the USA, October 7th, 2003. An earlier release in Europe, September 23rd, is planned.

Click here to order.

Press release from Sanctuary Records:

Grammy award winning artist Living Colour release their long awaited new album CollideØscope through Mayan Records / Sanctuary on September 23rd [see note above]. Co-founder of the Black Rock Coalition, Vernon Reid formed Living Colour in the mid 80's - one of the few hard rock bands comprised of all black members, yet with the talent and eclecticism to inject everything from punk and alternative to funk, jazz, soul and rap into their sound.

Creating a buzz on the New York underground, Living Colour won the support of Mick Jagger and went on to debut to massive critical acclaim in 1988 with 'Vivid' and the smash single/video 'Cult Of Personality', taking the album to number 6 in the US charts, platinum certification and the first of several Grammy Awards. A string of dates opening stadiums for the Rolling Stones' first US tour in eight years supported the release. After sweeping the board in several Best New Band awards in such magazines as Rolling Stone, 'Time's Up' was released in 1990, resulting in the UK hit single 'Love Rears It's Ugly Head'.

The band split in 1995, deciding to head in their own musical directions. Critically acclaimed solo efforts from each Living Colour member and ground breaking side-projects followed such as Headfake, Jungle Funk, Masque, Vice. Re-uniting for gigs and tours in recent years, Collideoscope has all the key ingredients that make up their classic sound, with a contemporary feel that we have come to expect from such an eclectic and accomplished band.

Tracklisting: Song Without Sin . A ? Of When . Operation Mind Control . Flying . In Your Name . Back In Black . Nightmare City . Lost Halo . Holy Roller . Great Expectations . Choices Mash Up . Happy Shopper . Pocket Of Tears . Sacred Ground . Tomorrow Never Knows . Nova

Will Calhoun will have his first photo exhibition at the Willasau Jazz Festival in Switzerland, August 28th, 2003 @ 6pm in Stadmuhle, Willasau.

The show is titled "Moroccan Exteriors." The show will contain music and photographs taken by Will Calhoun during his 2-week personal journey through the deserts of Morocco. He will also perform a brief solo Electronic Ambient Drum performance for the opening.

Daily Gallery hours are 9am-7:30pm.

Living Colour will perform on August 29th at the Willsasau Jazz Festival...featuring new material from their soon to be released CD...

Will Calhoun is the recipient of a fellowship from the SUNDANCE film organization to work with independant film makers, producing film scores.

Listen for Will Calhoun on WBAI 99.5 FM, broadcasting from NYC, on Friday, December 27th 2002, at 4pm.

Click here to listen on-line.

Will Calhoun is the recipient of a fellowship from the SUNDANCE film organization to work with independant film makers, producing film scores.

Listen for Will Calhoun on WBAI 99.5 FM, broadcasting from NYC, on Friday, July 12th 2002, at 10pm.

Click here to listen on-line.

*You will need the Real Audio Player to enjoy WBAI on-line.

July, 2002 update from Will:

Thanks for all the inquires concerning Living Colour, Head-Fake, Mos Def-featuring-Black Jack Johnson, and my Jazz project. I will try to answer as many questions as I can concerning these projects...

Living Colour: Living Colour is presently in the studio working on a new album. The group decided to go out and perform a few local and International gigs to examine new material, check out the audiences, and check our own vibe in concert. The past shows were fantastic. We just returned from Poland. Living Colour performed outdoors in middle of "Old Town" Warsaw. We had no idea 8000 people would attend. It was our first time performing in Poland and the show was a huge success. Presently, we are performing select shows while working on new material. We are planning to complete all the writing by late November and possibly release a new CD in February, 2003. For all of the West Coast fans, look for Living Colour to perform in Anaheim and San Diego California with George Clinton as a special guest. Please keep checking the site for details.

Head-Fake: Head-Fake is a constant work in progress. Doug and I have recorded hours of material for this duo project; however we have put our work aside for projects like Jungle Funk and lately Mos Def Featuring Black Jack Johnson. Some of the grooves for these projects were based on Head-Fake material. Now that we have completed both projects we are talking to a few labels at the moment. We recently performed in Estonia with Mark Ledford as a special guest. The show was fantastic. Head-Fake will perform at BAM on Sunday, July 14th at 8pm. We will perform new material. Please keep checking the site for details.

Mos Def-Black Jack Johnson: I spoke to Mos Def last week. The CD will finally be released in early 2003. This CD is one of the best recordings I've ever worked on... I'm thrilled. Keep checking the site for proper release dates and label information concerning this CD. The CD features me, Doug Wimbish, Dr.Know (from Bad Brains), Bernie Worrell (of P-Funk fame)... and a few special guests.

I will record another Jazz CD at some point in the coming months. I'm still organizing the personnel. Thanks for all messages, comments, questions, and mostly, your patience. We're working to add to the site and keep the information current.

- Will Calhoun

Click here for an interview with Will and Doug Wimbish during their recent stop in Warsaw, Poland. Click here for a reveiw of the LC show in Warsaw on 6/22/02.

Click here for a recent article about Will from The Inside Connection Web site.

Listen for Will Calhoun on WKCR 89.9 FM, broadcasting from NYC, on Thursday, Jan. 31th 2002, from 8-9pm.

Click here to listen on-line.

*You will need the Real Audio Player to enjoy WKCR on-line.

Living Colour and Friends Create Magic At Shure Musical Roots Benefit on 1/19/02 -- Click here for article.

News Archive

Latest vibe

Welcome to the award-winning Web site. Thanks for your patience as we've worked to put it together. Special thanks to Rob Freda, Nick Koziupa, Chris Kelly and all the good folks at Princeton Internet Group for their talents and efforts. Stay tuned for updates and new content as the site continues to evolve...
The site was recently honored with an "Award of Distinction - Design/Web site" by the prestigious Communicator Awards competition. "Congratulations to the team at PInG and Will on being recognized yet again for our successful collaboration and outstanding creative results!"
- Rob Freda, CEO and Founding Partner,
Princeton Internet Group
Check out Doug's album Trippy notes for Bass. Will co-produced the album which features such luminaries as Bernie Worrell and Talvin Singh and mixes by Adrian Sherwood.

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